I ask that question of at least one writing friend
every week. Sometimes it draws a sheepish response for which I feel awkwardly
happy because the response is usually followed by, “I need to get back to
writing.”
Today alone I’ve had the following conversations
about writing at a pastoral conference in Banff, Alberta.
Standing in the lobby of the conference hotel I
overheard a conversation between two delegates and caught the word, writing.
Later I apologized for eavesdropping and introduced myself as a writer and
asked if they were a writer.
“No, I just write for myself.”
“Then you’re a writer and what do you like to
write?”
The conversation led to the suggestion of starting
a blog so they could share their love of writing poetry.
An hour later I bumped into a friend at seminar and
asked how their writing was going.
“I have an idea for an article. Thanks for asking
because I better get to work on it.”
One of the speakers at our conference had authored
a book about her experience. At the conclusion of her talk I enquired if there
was another book in the works, because if there wasn’t she should turn the
message content turn into a sequel.
“Funny you should say that because another person
told me the exact same thing.”
When there is a second book I’ll happily take some
of the motivational credit.
A colleague asked for prayer for their daughter. She is suffering from depression, is a cutter and suicidal. They came to me for prayer because they were helped my blog post "Things Christians Tend To Get Wrong About Depression."
A colleague asked for prayer for their daughter. She is suffering from depression, is a cutter and suicidal. They came to me for prayer because they were helped my blog post "Things Christians Tend To Get Wrong About Depression."
Just knowing my writing was a valued source of insight and support was a God-given spur of affirmation that my writing matters.
Who can you spur on to writing?
Who can you spur on to writing?
I am
a recovering perfectionist, who collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and
drinks Iced
Tea. My office walls are adorned with our sons’ framed football jerseys,
and my library shelves, with soul food. I write to grow hope, inspire
people to be real, forge an authentic faith in Jesus, and discover
their life purpose.
Please follow my writing at Pointes Of View.
Please follow my writing at Pointes Of View.
Thanks for this, Pastor Bob. Your writing has repeatedly been "a valued source of insight and support," and I thank you for getting your writing out there where we can read it. We do need to spur, prod and encourage our fellow writers to write those stories that could make a positive change in someone else's life. This is what we are called to do. We write. God does the rest.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great glimpse of how you spur your fellow writers. Thank you.
ReplyDelete