A Mom struggles to overcome harmful thoughts that were hardwired into her brain during childhood trauma.
First responders search for ways to protect themselves from the cumulative stress of carrying the pain and pictures of those they have served.
A young woman is anxious about an upcoming surgery that may remove a breast as the doctors cut out cancer.
An immigrant family who knows they are now safe cannot erase from their minds the thoughts and nightmares of the horror they have experienced.
A young woman betrayed, beaten, trafficked to be owned by others. Trapped.
A First Nations woman is stuck in the belief the past defines her and determines her present and future, unable to see any choices.
A young man grieves his life choices, his failures, and contemplates a choice to stop the pain coming from the consequences.
A teenager is confused about her identity, yet she trusts no one with her secret because they would not understand.
A believer in Christ becomes depressed; her faith seems to only condemn not comfort her in the darkness.
Each of these individuals is who I imagine being my audience, the "world" my writing could possibly influence. I am burdened with the pain and darkness these people are experiencing because I relate to them. I have been in these situations, believed these thoughts, considered these actions. Yet I have also found hope and peace through Jesus Christ who provides life amid the darkness. I still struggle but I have experienced victory in these areas before and I know I will again. Not that "I" can, but that God will walk me through the darkness and teach me new ways of thinking, feeling, and acting.
Does my writing or speaking change the world? Honestly, I rarely get feedback on what I share except family and friends who love me and other writers who encourage me. So, I don't know. I don't hear of or see my words changing any of the people in my imaginary audience. Perhaps, although I occasionally share the words, I write only to solidify in my own ears, eyes, brain, and heart the truth of God’s redemption.
While I would like to think I can change the world through writing blogs, poetry, lyrics, magazine articles, fiction, or memoirs or by speaking my understanding of God's Word, changing others may not be the result or the purpose. I am called to write, but how that writing is used is out of my hands. That is God's department. I believe He uses anything He wants to further His Kingdom, whether a silver chalice or a chamber pot. So yes, He can use even me, even my writing, though the ink may flow in words that mention nothing of God.
Psalm 45:1 says in the Message paraphrase,
"My heart bursts its banks,
spilling beauty and goodness.
I pour it out in a poem to the king,
shaping the river into words."
(I shared a couple years ago on my blog, Phosphorescent, an essay delving into what this verse shows to a Christian writer, called "Waterfall.")
Walking with God, whether in darkness or joy, my heart bursts when I contemplate His grace to me. I then cannot help but write. My true audience is God. His love is amazing and we as Christians who write cannot express that at all adequately. Yet we must try. Yesterday at church we sang "The Love of God," a hymn expressing that truth.
Writers who are Christian, whether or not we know we are changing the world with our writing, have three reasons to continue.
To change the lives of others.
To change the life of ourselves.
To bring joy to God.
God’s Word changes hearts. Our words - written, spoken, sung, or acted out, - may be used by God to change the world. Therefore, I write.
*photos CCO license compliments of Pixabay.com
 |
| God is present. God is at work. Marnie writes. Phosphorescent |
