I wish that I had told
my writing students to give some thought to what they wanted their books to
make happen inside the people who read them.
Frederick Buechner
Ten years ago in my first months writing for our blog, I wrote a post based on John Bunyan’s conversation with his book. I repeat it here with some adaptations.
John Bunyan’s Conversation with His Book
One author who articulated what he wanted to happen inside his readers was John
Bunyan, who wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, one of the best-known allegories in
Christian literature.
In the sequel, the journey of Pilgrim’s wife and children, Bunyan instructed
the book to bravely go out into the world and tell people how much God loves
them.
The book raised objections (and I’m paraphrasing some here): “What if they
don’t believe me? What if people get angry? What if they criticize you, the
author? What if they don’t like the way you wrote?”
Bunyan answered, “Don’t be afraid, Book, as you are a friend and are sent to
friends, not enemies. If anyone objects to your authenticity, come back to me,
and I will confirm that you are mine. Turn away from people who criticize you.
Seek instead those who will rejoice when they read you.”
Pilgrim’s Progress, written over three hundred years ago, has challenged me again to be more specific as I pray for my readers. I’m still learning that praying our words into our readers’ lives can have a great impact. Here are points you may find helpful:
· Before praying for your readers, ask God for a listening attitude for His inspiration, His message and His guidance for the particular writing of the day.
· Clarify your overall goal for the readers of each particular w-i-p.
· Ask God to take your
writing to those who need to hear from God.
· Pray that each article
will be a work of art to challenge your readers’ intellects as well as their
spirits.
· Ask the living Lord to step
out of the sentences, paragraphs and ideas to leave His gentle touch on their
lives.
· Know how your prayers have
great power. “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and
produces wonderful results” (James 5:16 NLT).
· Our church’s mission is
for each person to know Jesus personally and become His devoted follower. Join Bunyan’s prayer:
And may (your words) persuade some that go astray,
To turn their Foot and
Heart to the right Way.[1]
And you? What do you want your writing to make happen inside your readers?
As you explore this question, what are you discovering about how you can pray
for yourself, your message, and your readers? What is God prompting you to do?
Image
by Our Daily Bread
[1]Adapted
from John Bunyan, Revised and Updated by L. Edward Hazelbaker, The Pilgrims
Progress in Modern English, (North Brunswick, NJ colon Bridge -Logos
Publishers. 1998) 215 to 221.
