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

When Writing is a Calling by Steph Beth Nickel

Could you not write?

I've heard that question more than once and I've given it quite a bit of thought.

Could I not write another blog post? I suppose.

Could I not write another poem? Most likely.

Could I not write those novels that are bee-bopping around in my head? Without a doubt.

But could I set aside writing all together? Now that's another story.

I didn't set out to co-author a memoir and yet that's how God led. It was my honour to help Deb Willows tell her story. And much to our surprise, it was shortlisted for this year's The Word Awards. That announcement struck me as surreal actually. (You can purchase Living Beyond My Circumstances from Castle Quay Books and other online and physical bookstores.)

 

A number of month ago Ron Hughes contacted me to know if I knew of anyone who might be interested in contributing to HopeStreamRadio. As is typical, I jumped in with both feet. This daily podcast seemed the perfect place to share a series of devotionals based on the gospel of John, which I titled "If You Love Me . . ." 

When I completed this series, I asked Ron what he thought I should write about next. I am currently working on "Family Life Lessons," using both Old and New Testament passages for inspiration.

I also upload two book reviews each month.

Did I have previous experience in devotional writing? Only a little.

Did I have previous broadcasting experience? None.

Is this a door God opened for me? I have no doubt. In fact, it is one of those things I just know He wants me to do.

Both of these opportunities plus the opportunity to co-teach the Creative Nonfiction Intensive at Write Canada this month made me feel like this . . . 

Not very spiritual, huh? (grin)

Do I believe, from past and present experiences, that God has called me to write? Absolutely.

Therefore, could I not write? As long as I feel it is what God would have me do, the answer must be a resounding NO!

How about you? Could you not write? Why or why not?

Growing into a Writer – by Ramona Heikel

For years as an adult, I had in the back of my mind that, when I had time—when I was in my eighties—I would be a writer.  Then one day when I was in my forties, I thought to myself, “I can hardly wait until I’m old and get to write!  But…I guess it couldn’t hurt to get started right now, could it?”  From that time on, I endeavored to be a skilled writer.  And the more I look back, the more it makes sense.

During my childhood and pre-teen years I wrote several stories.  I have in my scrapbook a science fiction thriller, poems, a cat adventure, and even a four-page newspaper I wrote for my chameleon.  My mom encouraged me to submit my poems to a children’s magazine, and at the age of eleven I received my first rejection slip:  “Stories and poems written by children are not purchased.  Keep reading Child Life and Children’s Playmate…” 

As a teen I wrote in diaries, loved school writing assignments, and wrote pages and pages of letters to friends out of town.  I was placed in the advanced English classes in high school, and wrote a column in my college newspaper.  Yet the only thing I remember wanting to “be” as I was growing up was a secretary or a teacher; I figured writing could only be a hobby.  I wasn’t aware that one could actually study English or Writing in college until I was majoring in math, and a friend announced that she was majoring in journalism.  I was envious!

I realize now how much my parents both influenced me to write.  My dad was very articulate, and always teaching me new vocabulary.  When I was living out of town he wrote me beautiful, long letters.  He took a creative writing course while he was in the Air Force, and I still have some of his well-written assignments.  I also learned that his mother and grandmother both wrote poetry, and my great-grandmother had some of hers published.

My mom took the Famous Writers Course by correspondence.  I remember the brown and white binders sitting on her art-deco desk, and her fat yellow envelopes full of assignments ready to mail.  She had two articles published in magazines and, inspired by God’s leading, she wrote the manuscript of a book about how the ideals of feminism contrast with God’s design for men and women.  I remember her often sitting in her office, looking out the window, deep in thought.  She has become understandably discouraged that many Christian publishers no longer accept unsolicited manuscripts, but would still love to perfect and publish her manuscript.

So, I wouldn’t say that I started by sensing God’s call to write; I just loved to write.  Now, although I have not “arrived”, I believe writing is a talent given to me, and as I’ve looked back at how naturally writing came to me, and all the writing talent in my background, and I do now sense his call to write.

I’m so glad that Mom and Dad implanted in my psyche the ideas that sitting and staring out the window to put words together is a perfectly valid way to spend time, taking writing courses is a good investment of money, and writing a book manuscript is a worthy goal.  I have done all three since I moved my “retirement dream” forward!

Posted by Ramona

www.happilywriting.com

 

Picture credit:  Mary Pickford writing -
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