The Gift of Writing

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I never planned to write last week’s blog, The Christmas Gift and His Story. I had expected to write the first few paragraphs of that post, and then move into what I’m about to write. Obviously, the story got too long to add anything else to, and so now I’ll get to my intended post. (A quick side note: this post is based largely off a session from a 2017 Young Writers’ Conference.)

You probably figured it out, but the Author in last week’s post—the man named Joshua—was who we more commonly know as Jesus. Jesus’ whole existence since before time began has been an undertaking of storytelling. He used people’s real lives to point to His life and sacrifice, He told stories while on earth, and even now, each of us is a character in His book that He is still, presently, at-this-moment writing. It’s pretty cool. But what’s our part in it? What’s our character role? How can those of us who love to write, use it to honor Him the way He wants?

Imitating the Creator

Jesus calls us to imitate Him in the way we live our lives. Obviously, He was talking about walking honorably and sacrificially, but He’s also given us the opportunity to join Him in His love for story. He gives us the chance to come alongside Him and create. To tell stories. To invent battles between good and evil, where good always triumphs even when the cost is great.

One of the administrators of the writing program I’m involved in, described writing as an act of worship. She was right. Since God is an infinite Being, we can worship and glorify Him in infinite ways with all the gifts He’s given us. He gave us the gift of seeing the world from His perspective as author of a creation; the gift of growing closer to Him and glorifying Him with the work we create; the gift of worship through writing.

Finding Purpose

Daniel Schwabauer or Mr. S—the one who taught me the most that I know about storytelling—spoke on how meaning is not found by looking into ourselves. It’s found through looking outward, by giving, by being selfless. Selflessness brings the gift of meaning to your life.

Writing brings meaning through selflessness. And that leads to the next point.

Living Selfless

Writing is tough. It requires observing people. It means studying and feeling emotions deeply so that we can accurately write. It takes hours of staring at the computer screen. It means late nights, early mornings, and guilt when we procrastinate. But why do we do it?

First, I believe there’s a deep sense of love for the craft inside the author. If that love is not there, then it must be a sense of duty…and that duty is to others. Why do people write things that critics and readers will tear apart? Why do they submit their manuscript to publishers over and over, just to receive another rejection letter? Why do they subject themselves to the folks that rip them up in the news, in articles, and on social media?

Maybe they didn’t know that’s what would come. Maybe they want the glory of at last triumphing. Or maybe they believe that what they have to offer is worth all the junk they get back. Maybe, just maybe, there is that one person they will reach and change for good.

Mr. S. once said, “Writing is a selfless act.”

Mr. S. taught me how to write and, to be honest, I’ve given him nothing in return. But he did it anyway. He was selfless.

If we worry about preserving ourselves from the critics of the world or our community, if we aren’t willing to receive the rejection letter once, twice, or an infinite number of times before someone accepts our manuscript, then no one will ever change. No one will read your work…because they can’t. Not if you hide it away to protect yourself.

Like Jesus gave to us who aren’t worthy, we also can give to all, including those who don’t deserve it. Jesus faced rejection to change the hearts of those who He called, who were eager to hear. We too should be willing to face our own hurt for the sake of those who will read and be changed. It’s part of imitating Him.

A fellow author, Lizzy H., gave a short speech at the afore mentioned conference in which she encouraged us to, “Write to help others, even if in all your efforts, you only reach one person. Be humble enough to be willing to help just one person. It’s worth it. Don’t feel like it’s not worth it if you’re not changing the entire world. Use the talents that God has given you in humility.”

Writing is a gift that you give…and expect nothing in return for. Plus, when you write for others, it frees you up. It helps you not be as afraid to receive criticism because the work you created was not for you anyway.

So, as we enter a new year, commit to writing well. Write for that one person who you may not even know, who may not be born yet. Trust that it’s worth it.

Thanks, Mr. S., for teaching me to write the stories I want to tell. Thanks, Lizzy, for your speech. And thank you, reader, for the gifts that you will write.

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Writing is a gift that you give…and expect nothing in return for.

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