4 Seasons of the Writing Life (Part 1)

 photo credit: ScottNorrisPhoto Dry Leaf on Wood via photopin (license)

 

One of the reasons I considered NOT participating in the Write 31 Days in October writing challenge has to do with the season I believe the Lord has revealed is upon me in my writing life.

I’ve never really struggled to write or felt like I have had writers block. Part of the reason for this fact is I don’t abide by a specific form of writing, but allow my pen to freely flow as it wishes to go…without judgement. The  more the pen glides across the paper the easier it is to get unstuck. I’m fairly committed to sitting down with a blank page, or blinking cursor on-screen and allowing what will be to be.

However, I committed to blogging with the intention of following the Lord’s leading. Which I feel I mostly have done. Until now.

The older I get the more I find the  black and white blanket statements to be inaccurate.

Living with a teen it’s easy to recall the years of extremes. Everything is hugely significant, altogether powerful during this “special” season. If something is sad, it’s not just sad, it’s the end of the world. If something is frustrating, it’s not just frustrating, it’s downright impossible. If something is embarrassing, it’s not just embarrassing, it’s completely humiliating – never leaving the house again- embarrassing. I get this. I understand. I remember. A pimple is seen as leprosy, a moment as a lifetime. I remember the anguish of the hormone years. Thankfully, I survived.

I find it hard to define a year in general terms, anymore. Whereas I used to say, “It’s been a hard year,  until “hard years” started adding up to a hard life. I am hard-pressed to broadly brush the description hard over my own life. It’s all relative, after all, and one  just has to take a quick look around the globe to gain perspective. The reality is every life has its own challenges- seasons. As for me, I’ve had my share of hard. More than some,  less than others, but exactly as the Lord has prescribed for my journey.

I don’t understand the  hand I’ve been dealt, any more than I understand the plight of others throughout time and history. I can only share from my  perspective in time and history…my story, the hand that has been dealt to me, and how I choose to respond.

Everyone has a calling. The question is, will you heed it?

I know God specifically called me to share. When I first accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior…in time and history as He revealed Himself to me, I responded. I shared Him, His truth as I knew it, where I was, and as He led. It was not complicated and I didn’t question. I just obeyed the promptings.

I think growing up outside of church influence made it easier in some ways for me to respond when I  did hear His call. I should say when I finally recognized His “voice”. When I began following that leading... that specific calling, everything turned right upside down!

Church community life presents its own unique problems to spiritual growth. I did not realize that then as I do now. Following the Lord, requires intimacy with Him. Otherwise it’s mere religious formality. Pharisee-ism.

You can’t be a sincere disciple of Jesus Christ and a  Pharisee, simultaneously. Or can you?

I’ve never been one for formality in anything. I’m a cut to the chase person, who abhors game playing, manipulation and deceit, but has a voracious appetite for truth.

 

Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow…when I will explain the 4 seasons of writing as I have experienced them.

This is my story, this is my song…

#writingredeemed

I am Writing Redeemed in October for 31 Days, 

Thank you for joining me on the journey. I pray my sharing encourages you in your own journey. Write about it, journal it, share it!  Most of all, encourage another along the way.