Writing Towards Vulnerability by Bob Jones

It has been said that faith feeds writing.

I write by faith without always making faith the subject of my writing.

Every keystroke or pen stroke is a profession of my faith.  

Because my personal beliefs are part of my identity what I believe inevitably ends up in my writing. Faith becomes the object, not the subject of writing.

Most people I meet want to believe in something “more,” to believe they have a purpose. They want to know why we are here and what our lives are about. They are looking for hope. Writing by faith grows hope.

Words always have been the chosen medium for the profession of faith. And words are how faith is shared. When you share your faith you are inviting people into the imperfections of your life. That takes being vulnerable.

Writing towards vulnerability takes faith.

Anne Lamott says: “Write toward vulnerability. Risk being un-liked. Tell the truth as you understand it. If you’re a writer you have a moral obligation to do this. And it is a revolutionary act—truth is always subversive. 

If something inside of you is real, we will probably find it interesting, and it will probably be universal. So you must risk placing real emotion at the center of your work. Write straight into the emotional center of things.”

Vulnerability is the bridge to belief. In this way, writing feeds faith.

In late September 2018, Sheila Walsh, author of the soon to be released book, It’s Ok To Not Be Ok

spent a weekend with our church family. She swung wide the door to her faith experiences and invited us strangers to become her friends.

Sheila shared her story about starting one day as the co-host of the 700 Club and ending it on suicide watch in a psychiatric hospital in Virginia. On the floor of her isolation room is where she had the most profound encounter of her life. When she felt everyone had walked out on her, Jesus walked in.

Emblazoned on my memory are her words about Jesus - “I never knew you lived so close to the floor.”

A day later I sat with a group of professionals – many of whom were not people of faith - as they listened to Sheila plumb the depths of her pain. There was not a dry eye around the lunch tables as Sheila explained that when she felt she was losing her mind, God showed up to save her.

Faith was ignited in the spirits of those men and women that afternoon because of Sheila’s words.

(Inscribe's Marnie Pohlmann writes a post called Indelible - a beautiful illustration of vulnerability, faith and writing at it's purest. Her blog is worth your time.)

Writing straight into the emotional center of things is faith at it's boldest.

Be bold.

Write on.

I am a recovering perfectionist, who collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and drinks Iced Tea. My office walls are adorned with our sons’ framed football jerseys, and my library shelves, with soul food. I write to grow hope, inspire people to be real, forge an authentic faith in Jesus, and discover their life purpose.

Please follow my writing at Pointes Of View.

Overcoming Perfection Paralysis by Karma Pratt

The writing life. Le sigh. It seems so romantic when viewed from a distance. Notions of idyllic settings from which to draw inspiration, dedicated time without interruptions, the peace of God's presence, and the unending flow of all things creative and writerly. Personally, I imagine an ocean view, a desk with zero clutter and time... glorious time.

When it comes to writing, there are many practical elements to take into consideration and the idyllic seems non-existent except, perhaps, within the realm of day dreams. I find that perceptions versus reality can impact my writing in a negative fashion if left unchecked. So, with that in mind, here are a few thoughts on the ways that faith transcends fear and has the potential to create the ideal atmosphere for writing.

Perfection Paralysis

Have you ever suffered from perfection paralysis? That sinking feeling that, if you don't get everything just right then there will be no opportunity to write? If you're like me, this level of perception vs. reality can lead down a path of procrastination at best, and full on paralysis at worst. 

In the past when my to-do list began to overwhelm me, my go-to coping mechanism was to just shut down. I couldn't get past the idea that my to-do list was my purpose. If I wasn't ticking the boxes in a timely fashion, I wasn't achieving my purpose or reaching my goals. If I couldn't "get it right" then I wouldn't do it at all for fear of getting it wrong. 

Oh, boy. Talk about a path of destruction. This type of cyclical thinking can only end in a tornado of tears. Thankfully, God continues to show me a better way daily. 

Passion, Purpose, Peace

There's a method to ending the madness of perfection paralysis. 

I recently started listening to a podcast called Encounter. It's a Christian guided meditation that focuses on daily connection to God through His Word. A recent podcast I listened to is called Discover Your Peaceful Purpose. 

"Ah, how lovely," I thought. "Finally I will learn the secret to mastering my to-do list." 🙂 

Turns out, my peaceful purpose as a writer has much less to do with to-do's and far more to do with to-be's. As in be thankful, be conscious of God's grace in my life, and be ready and willing to follow His call. 

Quite simply, if I turn my focus back to God, the desire to "get it right" falls by the wayside, replaced with the desire to take the next right step to honour God. The to-do list loses its power when I turn to face the One who promises true peace. The pressure releases and I am free to write because I am passionate about following God's call on my life, not because I have finally attained perfection. 

Faith-Filled Writing Life

My faith continues to inform my writing and God keeps helping me take steps to the next level. 

I am stepping out in faith this fall by attending a writer's retreat in Hydra, Greece. 

This God-sized dream is being made possible because I heeded the call in my heart and asked God to help me iron out the details. I am putting in the work and He is showing me the way. 

I do not know what to expect when I get to Greece, but I know that God will meet me there, and I pray expectantly that He will continue to reveal Himself to me in new ways. 

Come to think of it, this trip may just give me a taste of that idyllic, ocean view. At least for a short time I will retreat from the everyday and enter into a focused period of writing and meeting with God. 

I am thankful for the opportunities to let go of my own notions of what's right to write, and I look forward to seeing how God continues to move in this season. May you also be blessed with freedom from perfection paralysis in your writing and your faith journey. 

***

Karma writes from the golden house in Northeastern BC. You can connect with her online at redraincoatcreations.com

How Do Writing and Faith go Hand-in-Hand? by Sandi Somers

Faith feeds writing and writing feeds faith.

The interconnection between faith and writing is so simple that the answer is, "Spirituality and creativity always go hand-in-hand!" And at the same the topic is so complex that books have been written to engage the intricacies. 

Read these excellent blogs/articles:

“How writing can be a spiritual discipline,” and “11 ways writing has helped me grow” by our own InScriber Pamela Mytroen.

I’m often reminded of the Flannery O’Connor character, Asbury, who said, “The artist prays by creating.” I saw this so clearly this spring when figuring out a complex counselling case and treatment plan. As I wrote, I felt as though my words were a prayer.

Writing has become an outpouring of the growing edge of my relationship with God. God is continually teaching me new things, speaking to me through His Word, concepts I can translate into writing. This in turn opens the way to meet the needs of those who read my writing.

In another area, wrestling with a life/faith issue is an incentive to write. Conversely, while wrestling with a writing issue, I ask God for His guidance. He often answers, “I will help you.”

I’m currently reading the book: The Soul Tells a Story: Engaging Creativity with Spirituality in the Writing Life, by Vinita Hampton Wright. Here are a few quotes and paraphrases which may be an inspiration to you.

·        “Treat your creative and spiritual journeys as one…spirituality and creativity are closely connected.”

·        “Creative work…happens in that interior place where spiritual life forms… Your spiritual beliefs and your creative drive reside in the same place—deep within you where everything important is stored.”

·        “(Your spiritual life) harbors the possibilities for growth, forgiveness, honesty and true change. Often what you are working out creatively is in part an expression of what is happening in your spiritual reality.”

·        “Spirituality can offer depth and direction to creative work…” Your work can become a transcendent story.

·         “Our creative gifts provide means by which to infuse our theology and philosophy with real life.”

·        “Creativity can give to your spirituality the unique stamp that is your personality. This is the story only you can write.”

* * *

Tell us about how faith and writing go hand-in-hand for you. Perhaps these questions will jump-start your thinking.

How intentional am I in developing both my creative and spiritual life and life with God?

What does my life look like when I engage my emotions, senses and spirituality when I write?

Where and how is God nudging me to new opportunities and new challenges in my writing and faith?

Finishing School by Susan Barclay

The last couple of years have definitely been faith-stretching for me. And as much as I'd rather not have one of my children turn his back on the things of God, the unexpected experience has deepened my own spiritual walk. This year, I look forward to growing closer still to the Lord, walking in obedience to Him, listening for His voice. One of the tools I'll be using is Priscilla Shirer's study, Discerning the Voice of God. Perhaps in future posts I'll be able to share some of the things I learn from it.

Regarding the writing, anyone who's read my previous Inscribe posts will be aware of my unfinished novel. Whether it's God's leading or not, I feel that before I can move on with other significant writing, I need to finish this. My goal is to complete this year, once and for all, the first draft. After that, it can lie in a drawer if need be.

Before Christmas, I read Finishing School by Cary Tennis and Danelle Morton. The authors aren't Christian so there's occasional language, but their proposal of a workable method to bring  writing projects from stalled to fruition seems reasonable and doable. To that end, I asked a writer friend if she's interested in buddying up, and she said "tell me more." Stay tuned!

Jim Cymbala says that "If we prevail in prayer, God will do what only He can do." In other words, when we do our part, He'll do His. Thus, I intend to focus heavily on prayer, inviting God's presence and participation into my life and writing. I am confident that since He will never leave me nor forsake me, He will be faithful.

So forward in faith I go, thankful for a new year in which to experience His life abiding in me as I abide in Him. 2018 may be full of surprises, sunshine and rain. In all things, I will aim to please and praise my Creator, the One who sustains me and gives me breath.


And now, excuse me; I'm off to school.
____________
Please visit Susan at her website, www.susan-barclay.blogspot.ca.