Vulnerability in One’s Writer’s Voice by Alan Anderson

 

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”--- Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

 

 

The online Cambridge Dictionary describes “vulnerability” in the following way:

 

Vulnerability: “the quality of being vulnerable (= able to be easily hurt, influenced, or attacked), or something that is vulnerable:”

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/vulnerable

 

Vulnerability in a Question

 

This writer is forever thankful to God for the book The Wounded Healer by Henri J. M. Nouwen. Nouwen poses a thought-provoking question at the beginning of the book and answers it throughout its pages. The question is, “What does it mean to be a minister in contemporary society?” 

(Nouwen, Henri J.M., The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society (Image Doubleday, New York, 1972), p. 3.

 

A major contributor to the development of my voice as a writer was The Wounded Healer, written in 1972. The question Henri Nouwen asks still encourages a response from ministers and other servant-leaders today.

 

Allow me to offer a few brief points on how I answered and reflected on Nouwen’s question.

 

A question to invite vulnerable answers

 

Nouwen’s question intrigues me to this day, years after I read his book. For the sake of this blog post, I thought I would put a little spin on his question.

 

What does it mean to be a writer who is also a Christian in contemporary society?

 

My friends, free your minds to give thought to your answers. What does your call as a writer mean to you? What do the words eager to jump from your brain on to a page want to say to the world, your readers?

 

Here are a few suggestions I offer for your consideration.

 

Write as a “Wounded Healer.”

 

In his reference to Christian ministers, Henri Nouwen notes a particular image in focus throughout his answers to his original question. The image is that of the minister as “the wounded healer.” This is he or she who is aware of one’s vulnerability, one’s woundedness in coming alongside people who suffer. In short, servant-leaders are to recognize themselves as those who also suffer.

 

Every time I sit down to write, I write as a wounded healer. My own experiences of suffering teach me to bring hope to other people who suffer. The call of a Christian writer in the world we live is that of a wounded healer. We suffer, therefore, for the sake of our readers, we write with vulnerability. Our vulnerability brings authenticity, not weakness, to our words.

 

Vulnerability shows honesty in one’s words.

 

While dictionaries portray vulnerability as weakness, one can also harness this “weakness” as a strength. Vulnerability allows us as writers to be unashamed about emotions and the words we commit to a page. Our words can evoke tears, giggles, and deep thoughts. They represent us as writers.

 

Whatever I write, in all its vulnerability, is based on an honest observation of life. Honesty realizes the value vulnerability brings to the words one sends into the world of readers.

 

Vulnerability in one’s writing brings hope

 

A hope I pray for my writing is readers will use my words to wrap around themselves and know they are not alone. This is reason enough to show vulnerability on the page. Vulnerability makes us aware of our limitations and dependence on God’s mercy and grace.

 

Vulnerability in our writing has a hope to wrap our arms around the souls of our readers. The Lord Jesus promised He gives rest to our souls. This blessed rest allows us as writers to show genuine vulnerability in our words to reach the souls of our readers.

 

 

My friends, to write as a wounded healer is honest, hope laden, and shows vulnerability. May it be so with all of us.

 

 

Alan lives in a small village called Deroche, British Columbia, with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. He enjoys walking on the dike near his home with trees all around, where he finds inspiration for his writing. He occasionally writes articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. Alan is the new BC/Northern Regional Rep. for InScribe. His website is https://scarredjoy.ca.

H is for Honesty ~ by Wendy L. Macdonald

 

Be strong and take heart,

    all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 31:24 NIV

A sweet friend of mine—who now resides on the other side of Heaven’s gate—often laughed at me. Whenever she asked me how I was doing, I told her. She said she loved my honesty.

Honesty is a good quality if it’s handed out with tenderness. Bluntness isn’t best for most interactions. 

I do have people in my life who are blunt with me. And I am with them. It works for us. But we also share a lot of kindness too. We’ve earned each other’s honest-to-goodness trust and freedom to shoot from a relaxed upper lip. 

We can speak deeply because we love each other deeply.

Readers love thoughtful honesty too. They appreciate from-the-heart poignancy. However, gratuitous writing isn’t wise for inspirational writers. Honest writing is wise when done well.

One of my favorite writing quotes says to “Be brave or go home.” (I can’t remember who said it.)  Honest writing takes bravery. In my June monthly newsletter to subscribers, I was more honest than usual. Hints kept showing up in my world that I needed a prayer team behind me. The closer we get to potentially publishing an honest book that will bless readers, the more attacks the enemy of honesty will make against us.

My honesty paid off. I now have a small team praying for me. Peace and enthusiasm have returned to my heart and pen. I’m not 100% out of the toss-in-the-towel woods yet, but so much good emotional and spiritual growth has happened since I asked for prayer.

I hope my example encourages you to be honest with your readers. It’s always a gift when we read from-the-heart writing. There have been times I’ve been awed and blessed by someone’s honesty.

Have you ever wanted to hug an author for making you feel less alone? I sure have. 

Each book Michele Cushatt writes makes me want to send her a bouquet of hugs. She cares about her readers. Her honesty helps us see and understand how honest we can be with God too. He’s not afraid of our bluntness when it’s expressed with faith that He sees us in our wilderness experiences. Like King David in the Psalms, we can bleed our hearts bare before our loving Lord. He sees. He hears. He cares.

Who is your favorite from-the-heart author? How does this writer’s work make you feel?  

Blessings as you boldly write for God’s glory,

Wendy Mac 

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.”