June 22, 2018

Food For The Journey by Alan Anderson



The writing prompt for this month asks, “Which Scripture verses keep you nourished as you travel the writer’s path?” There are three verses of Scripture I’m including in this post. They speak to me as motivation for my writing. They humble me as they remind me of my vulnerability as a man and a writer.


Writing is Healing
Wow, to think God called me to write. That is still so hard to believe for me. When I write I always aim at showing hope to readers. As a Christian I live in hope. With this hope I look to a life beyond this one. I write as a man broken, sinful and weak yet also healed by the wounds of the Saviour. This is amazing. This is humbling.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,    and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:55).


I have to remember I am who I am because of Christ. To those who are not Christians this might sound like an odd statement. To those healed and forgiven of their sin, this is fundamental to one’s identity and life.


Writing is Nourishing Peace

(James 5: 13 – 16) Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

On my writing journey I need nourishment, to feed my soul. The Bible and Sunday liturgy at church provide food for my writing. It is food that humbles me. You see, as a Christian I am cognizant of my brokenness, my fragility as a person. This in turn helps shape my writing, or at least I hope it does.


Through my church community I am cared for, prayed for and find a welcome place. Both my wife and I find a sense of peace belonging to our church. Inner peace is a result of being part of community of God. I am mindful that in my writing I want to bring this sense of peace.


Writing feeds my emotional and spiritual health.

  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11: 28-29).


If the fog of depression tries to claim me again I write down what is going on inside me. As I write in this context I pray the words will bring a sense of healing to me. I hope it is acceptable to say that I write for myself as well as readers.


The people who respond to my writing are those acquainted with grief, suffering and calamities that come with being human. They are the ones who also comment on my blog. It is like they hear my voice in the words I write. They know I am familiar with being “weary and burdened.” I also hope they find rest for their weary and burdened souls. This rest binds us together.








Blog: scarredjoy.wordpress.com

6 comments:

  1. Wonderfully said, Alan. God bless.

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    1. Thank you Tracy. I appreciate you take the time to comment. :)

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  2. Alan,
    Thanks for sharing. Isn’t writing a wonderful gift? God first of all uses our writing to help us think through issues and then uses our writing to help those going through similar circumstances.

    Keep sharing His hope with our world!

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    1. Hi Ruth. Writing is indeed a wonderful gift. I love it when words come together and give hope. :)

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    2. Thanks, Alan, for the beautiful and comforting verses you've chosen to share with us. Like someone preparing a nourishing meal for guests, you've chosen dishes that would nourish yourself as well.

      As Christians who write, don't we write to bless others? In Proverbs 11:25, we read, "The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped." (The Message)

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    3. Hi Sharon! Yes, I hope readers are blessed in some way with what the words say. We are in this calling together. In turn we bless each other. Thank you so much for being an encourager to me my friend.

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