S is for Self-Examination by Susan Barclay

 

A few years ago, I took an in-person writing course on spiritual autobiography. While it was fascinating both to explore many examples, concepts, and tools, one thing that stood out is the requirement of self-examination. To write one's spiritual autobiography, the writer needs to look closely at herself in "the mirror," reflecting on the transformational events in her life that have shaped her.

One of the authors whose works we considered in this course is David G. Benner.* In his book The Gift of Being Yourself: the Sacred Call to Self-Discovery, he says,

Christian spirituality involves a transformation of the self that occurs only when God and self are both deeply known. Both, therefore, have an important place in Christian spirituality. There is no deep knowing of God without a deep knowing of self, and no deep knowing of self without a deep knowing of God. John Calvin wrote, “Nearly the whole of sacred doctrine consists in these two parts: knowledge of God and of ourselves.

Benner warns that

Unless we spend as much time looking at God as we spend looking at our self, our knowing of our self will simply draw us further and further into an abyss of self-fixation.

I think we can agree that we see all around us today the effects of self-absorption, selfishness, and navel-gazing, in societies that have become more hostile to the things of God and to an awareness of God. That's a post (perhaps) for another day.

But what are the benefits of self-examination for writers, whether or not we are writing spiritual autobiography? Why is it important to have a strong sense of who we are? I think there are a few reasons.

God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives, to give us a hope and a future (ref Jeremiah 29:11). When we work from a place of understanding who we are in Him, and know that we're in the centre of His will, it gives us courage and strength to go where He leads us because we know that we are working alongside of Him and He is with us (ref Joshua 1:9). 

Having a strong sense of who we are also: 

- helps us to determine what we are meant to write.

- helps us know why we are the ones best positioned to write this particular story, book, poem, devotional, or article.

- helps us know who our audience is, whether we are writing for seniors, adults, teens, or children.

- provides a framework for writing in a way best suited to us: using pen and paper or a computer; working in a noisy or quiet atmosphere; writing to the sounds of nature, classical music, or pop; writing in the wee hours of the morning or late into the night; working in a coffee shop, home office, library, sunroom, or kitchen.

“We do not find our true self by seeking it. Rather, we find it by seeking God.” (Benner)

How well you know God determines how well you know yourself. Are you seeking (spending time with) Him each day? Do you know if you're stewarding your gifts well? What can you do today to get to know Him and yourself better? 

 

[*For the record, I don't necessarily endorse Benner's contemporary work. He has gone further into mysticism than I am personally comfortable with...]

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For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com.

Star mapping from the dung heaps of life ~ by Michelle Strutzenberger

As a frequent flyer in the dung heaps of life, I have found that the older I get, the more I can relate to such verses as: Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. (Job 5:7, NIV)

It wasn’t always so for me. When I was younger, I cradled a deeply hidden belief that someday all would be better in my life on this Earth. Yes, I looked forward to heaven, but I secretly felt (though I likely would never have said this aloud) that if one just did all the right things, eventually this life could become quite heavenly, that is, problem-free, too.

 

Well, here I am, testing that wide-eyed, youthful, hopeful belief – and sometimes I laugh to myself.

 

And then I sigh.

 

If anything, the more I have advanced in years, the more the troubles have multiplied.

 

Furthermore, the word on the street is, the problems only rain faster and thicker the longer one lives.

 

So, what is one to do?

I remember learning about the dung beetle that navigates by the stars years ago. At the time, I was entranced. Awww, what a fascinating and potentially deeply symbolic picture – the wee, little bug, ploughing his way through that stinky mess, yet with his radar tuned to the heavens.

 

I just knew there had to be a lesson for me in that decidedly fun aspect of nature.

 

For years, the lesson never came to me. But just this past week, I thought again of that little poop-tourist and the question jabbed me - why in all of tarnation is the beetle still climbing through the dung heap? He’s got the stars to guide him, for Pete’s sake! Why doesn’t he use those stars to walk his way right out of the squelch and putrid odours onto lovely, cool, sweet-smelling grass?

 

I had to find out, so I dug up the facts.

 

Well, I found some good news – and yes, a life lesson. The good news is – most dung beetles do in fact use the stars to navigate away from the dung pile. Although there are a few lazy ones, most of them don’t retire in that filth.

 

And the life lesson? Before leaving the pile, the beetles make themselves a little ball made of that same dung to take with them. Then, while they are on their travels, led by the Milky Way, they munch away on their little dung truffles and so stay alive.

 

As I prayed about what I can learn from the dung beetle and his strange little habit, it came to me that maybe it’s this – as I look to the Lord to guide me through my troubles, maybe I need to be more intentional about making my own little “dung truffles.”

Let me explain. How many of us fall into a hard time, ask God for help, eagerly receive His rescue and counsel, and then happily bounce away, soon forgetting all that He’s done and able to do – until we step into the next pile of stinky trouble.

 

Maybe, each time we go through trouble and receive the Lord’s help, we need to take with us a little reminder of exactly how He answered. We need to make ourselves a dung truffle, or, I like this term better, a memory nugget.

 

We need to carry with us a memory nugget of how specifically God showed us His grace and mercy and help. We need to munch on that nugget as we traverse from dung heap to dung heap, all the while gazing upwards for His guidance.

 

I’ve somewhat done this over the years. I keep a very messy and decidedly non-publishable journal of my prayers. Every so often I’ll go back and read them. As I’m reminded of my former troubles, I will also recall how the Lord helped and answered in those times. I try to make a point of scribbling in what exactly He did to answer.

 

Our family is currently going through some heavy times as a brother-in-law passed away suddenly from cancer and now my sister, who has been dealing with cancer for years, just was told by her doctor to “prepare for end of life.”

As the burden of new sorrows drags on my spirit, I remember going through sadness more than two decades ago after the death of my twin. I recall some years after her death that I looked back and felt I surely had been carried through the worst of my suffering – carried by people’s prayers and the Lord’s mysterious, deeply personalized, and real comfort.

 

Now, I slowly savour that memory nugget of God’s help in that time of deep heartache as I face this new season of sorrow. Although I know hard times are still ahead, I am nourished with a little more peace and strength than I had before.

 

What about you? How do you keep the memories of God’s past help alive? How do those memories sustain you now?

 

In our church service this past Sunday, part of the following passage was shared. I thought it fit so well with the topic of my post, that I had to add it:

Psalm 34:17-19 (NIV):

17The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is close to the broken-hearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
¹⁹ The righteous person may have many troubles,
    but the Lord delivers him from them all.

Michelle Strutzenberger and her family enjoy hiking mountains and trails together. She is currently writing a series under her maiden Mennonite name, Michelle Teigrob. The series is called, What Growing Up in a Mennonite Family of 10 Taught Me About Survival. To receive the tips, visit this link and subscribe.

Spaces -- Tangible and Internal ~ Valerie Ronald

When my mother left me a gift of money in her will, the first purchase I made with it was an oak rolltop desk, something I knew she would want me to own. From the time I showed an interest as a child until her passing, she encouraged and supported my desire to write. Whenever I roll up the cover on my desk, I feel her loving presence.

The handsome old desk stands in an alcove, its worn wood interior smoky with thousands of words forged in the fires of my imagination, meditations and experiences. To me it is not just a desk, it is a sacred space where, as I practice my craft, the Holy Spirit flows through me like at no other time. I keep a scented candle burning nearby when I write, to remind me it is not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit*  I am given the words He may possibly use to draw others to Himself.

There are other spaces where I sometimes write, however, this desk is where creativity happens most often. It contains tools like my laptop, dictionaries, writing books, pens and sticky notes. Its cubbyholes and drawers are messy and cluttered with the debris of a busy mind. I like it that way. Then there are treasures which motivate me, like a stuffed frog with its acronym attached on a label˗˗ Fully Rely On God, or a trinket box embellished with a porcelain fountain pen. Above my desk hangs a painting by my daughter, of a woman’s hands holding an open book.

Every writer has a favorite space to write, whether at the kitchen table, in a private study, at a cafe or outside in a garden. Our space where we write is important to us. I find it interesting to see photos of the writing spaces of well-known authors. When in Paris, I visited an English bookstore where Ernest Hemingway used to write. His desk, typewriter and some of his books were still there, tucked away in a quiet corner of the shop. It was inspiring to be where some of his great works were created.

 

Physical space for writing is important, but not as key as mental space. Nowadays the time and energy required to function in our culture is often not conducive to a writer’s need for mental space. Creating mental space for writing to thrive is about giving the mind the chance to clear and reset, while also letting the subconscious get to work in the background. When I am asked to describe my writing process, I say that most of the work goes on in my mind before I actually get down to writing.

The best of ideas and problem-solving occur when I am doing some simple activity not requiring deep focus, like cooking, going for a walk, or painting. When it feels as though I am thinking about nothing, I am giving myself mental space so my subconscious has free rein. The key is to find something that takes my mind off of my work in progress so it has a chance to grow organically. Daydreaming is an absolute necessity in my life as a writer, providing a mental space where ideas can percolate in my subconscious while I focus on a simpler activity.  

We are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, whose creativity is beyond understanding. He created us to be writers, so He knows what we need to write ˗˗ both tangible and internal spaces where, prompted by His Spirit, our words create worlds inspired by Him. 

* Zech. 4:6 NIV

 Valerie Ronald writes from an old roll top desk in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, with her tortoiseshell cat for a muse. A graduate of Langara College School of Journalism, she writes devotionals, fiction and inspirational prose. Her purpose in writing is to encourage others to grow in their spiritual walk

 

Stir it Up Together by Lorrie Orr

 

Everyday I stir up something – the few seconds of tinkling the spoon of honey in my morning tea, the steady back and forth and around the pot of making jam, the vigorous slap of yeast dough to develop the gluten structure, a quick dip to the bottom and around the bowl for muffins, and a fast scraping of the pan when sautéing aromatics for soup. Different types of stirring for different purposes.

The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to “stir up the gift of God” that was in him. Other versions say to “fan into flame the gift of God” or “kindle afresh the gift of God.” The writer of Hebrews uses similar language when he writes “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deed.”

Community is vital to the spiritual health of a church. And I believe we can extend that same meaning to a community of writers. One of the most influential writing groups consisted of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield, and others. They met together regularly, informally, without rules and regulations, to discuss Christianity and their own writings. They stirred each other up, not always agreeing, but motivating one another in thinking and writing. Tolkien says of Lewis, “He was for long my only audience. Only from him did I ever get the idea that my ‘stuff’ could be more than a hobby.” Lewis encouraged Tolkien to complete The Lord of the Rings. Lewis said of the Inklings, “what I owe them is incalculable.” Along with meeting regularly, some of the members, including Lewis and Tolkien, took long walks together in the English countryside. I would love to have listened in on their conversations.

Reading about the Inklings and their closeness makes my heart ache with longing for something similar. I write quietly, in the background. Few of my real-life acquaintances know that I write. Yet I believe God has given me the ability and desire to write and I long to honour him with it. Lately, I’ve been feeling the need for more connection to other writers. It’s a scary thing to consider, making myself vulnerable.

Maybe it’s time to think about getting more involved with Inscribe. There are several opportunities in the organization just now. What about you? Shall we step forward together and commit to something outside of our own writing life? Shall we stir up the flame of writing so that it does not go out? Shall we spur each other on to love and good deeds?

Together in God’s strength our personal writings can become deeper, more nuanced, and finished! Tolkien was a notorious non-finisher (can you imagine?) and it was through Lewis’ encouragement that he completed the magnificent literary works we enjoy today. By paying attention to each other, stirring up one another’s gift of writing, we can all benefit.

 

 Lorrie writes from Vancouver Island where she lives with her husband. She is blessed to have her children and grandchildren living in the same town. Writing, reading, gardening, sewing, hiking, camping - life is full of God's goodness. She recently returned from 10 days in The Netherlands followed by a cruise around Iceland, stopping in Scotland before returning home. 

Soul On Fire ~ by Tracy Krauss

I came across this quote, attributed to Jennifer Lee: “Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.”

To me, “soul on fire” is a figurative phrase for “passion”. I’m going to make a generalization: for most of the folks who frequent this blog, writing is one of your passions. 

Recently I’ve been conducting contributor interviews in preparation to promote InScribe’s newest anthology CREATIVITY & CHAOS: ARTISTIC ENDEAVOURS FOR TRYING TIMES. 

Over and over I heard the phrase, “I can’t NOT write,” or, “I’ve always been a writer.” I get it because I feel the same way. Writing sets my soul on fire and it seems it does the same for you.

One poet even spoke of a physical “Hum” she experienced while composing a poem—an almost euphoric state brought on by the creative process. If that’s not a soul on fire, I don’t know what is!

I was also interested to hear the various forms of writing that each person gravitated toward. Even people who primarily write in one genre often use another form as an outlet or therapy. Poetry and journaling are high on the list, even among non-poets, but others talked about blogging, devotionals, journalism, speeches, and even writing sermons. One person writes short descriptive pieces about nature for a real estate magazine, while another talked about speaking at “Celebrations of Life” as her sweet spot. Wow! I was blown away by our writing community's depth and breadth!

Inevitably, we also talked about other creative pursuits, and again, I was astounded by the variety. While writing was high on the list, most people have other passions, too. Painting, watercolours, sketching, and other traditional visual art forms were prevalent. Music—listening, playing an instrument, singing, leading worship—were also common. Add scrapbooking, sewing, baking, gardening, making “junk journals” (which are anything but junky!), woodworking, remodeling & renovating, making models… The list goes on! Two of the most unique that I came across (at least in my mind) were building with Lego and voice acting/audio mixing. We are one creative group!

Of course, it was also evident through our conversations that a “soul on fire” also has a spiritual side. As followers of Jesus, that is the ultimate passion in this life! 

You can watch all of these wonderful interviews starting in the middle of August as part of our promotion for the anthology. 

To end this piece, I invite you to enjoy a song by Third Day, one of our household’s favourite Christian bands. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7lv9oMjv_0

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Tracy Krauss is passionate about the creative process and writes, paints, draws, sews, teaches & preaches from her home in Tumbler Ridge, BC.  Visit her website: fiction on the edge without crossing the line: https://tracykrauss.com