In the year 2000 the Father urged me to “write”. I started and completed a fictional manuscript. The creation of that taught me I had the discipline to write. That book had some good feedback from publishers, but it wasn’t good enough to publish. Then came the boom of self-publishing, but that book was not, and probably never will be, publishable.
I have since self-published several books, have written others, have ghost-written one book, and have appeared in some literary journals and all over the web in mags and on blogs. Yes, I am a writer. I have taken GOD’s call and followed through. But now I am at another cross-roads, and I’m not sure where to go next.
I have one manuscript I want to finish for the sake of a colleague. Then what?
I don’t know where to go with my writing. I have to keep writing in order to keep sane:) Writing is my way of processing thoughts and emotions, and without it, over a period of some days, a collection of unconsidered thoughts tends to pile up and cause me to implode (temporarily) psychologically. I suppose it is part-prayer, part-self counselling. Writing is my medicine (both preventative and curative) against darkness affecting me.
So, I write.
What about an audience? Is it important to share?
Occasionally, I have a thought, insight, perception, that is universally useful. It helps me to write it down and to share it on social media or my website. But does it matter to the world who sees it? No. There are hundreds of thousands and even millions of people posting. My post does not matter to the universe. But GOD, the Father, if He wants to make something I say of value to others, then He will sign-post it, He will make it accessible to others, He will take it forward.
Father, that is my prayer!
In the meantime, I want to make the best use of the time I have on this earth, to be the most fruitful person I can be, sowing: love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, patience and self-control into the world (Galatians 5:22).
I desire to be useful to others and to the Father. How shall I make the best use of time? First, I recognise it isn’t my time anymore, or I try not to see it as “my time”. Rather, it is the Father’s time, even as I seek to fulfil my destiny in Jesus.
Recently, my husband taught about the “Two You’s”: the You who lives in the flesh and the You who lives in Christ. His talk was profound. He is a teacher of GOD’s Word: insightful, revelatory, fearless, he writes what GOD reveals to him from the Bible. It is usually new and always rock-solid. I wish he’d publish his talks. Since he won’t, should I?
Or has the Father called me to write simply because He takes delight in my creativity?
GOD calls us to be His hands and feet. For a truly fulfilled life, we will answer that call affirmatively. He called me to write and so far, He hasn’t asked me to stop…. I just wish the marketing would take care of itself.
If you’ve been called to write (or something else specific), do it. Make time, find a way. This simple act of obedience will be a life-saver against boredom and depression, and will give Life to others who happen to trip over your work.