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.