Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Reaching Our Prize

As a writer with a website as well as blog, twitter and facebook...not to mention forum accounts, I admit to one thing...I am a cyber-stalker.

I weave in and out of other author's and writer's websites and blogs, sneak into forum discussions and visit facebook pages and read tweets. All this in a "lurking" sort of way. While doing this, I often ask myself, "what are you looking for?" and most of the time I haven't a clue.

Today was my first day back to work full-time and I began my usual ritual of web-stalking. This time, when I asked myself the ususal "what are you looking for" kind of question, my answer surprised me. "I'm looking for an easier way to do this."

An easier way?

Authors talk about their journeys all the time. I read about their struggles to get their work into print or even to get an editor to take a look at them. I've read about the mistakes they've made and the glorious triumphs they now enjoy and sometimes, I admit, to getting a bit overwhelmed.

I've watched the movies of true-life dramas where men beat the odds to gain the prize. I can't tell you how many times I walked away feeling like "Of course they won, what else could they do." Completely taking for granted that what they did, truly was against the odds. Taking for granted the work and pain they went through to get there.

The life of a writer is hard, but when you think of what it took your neighbor to become an engineer or a doctor or lawyer or perhaps a teacher, carpenter or electrician, you'll realize that nothing worth doing is easy.

My brother-in-law is a construction worker. He puts in long hours in snow, rain and sun every season. It took him years to develop his craft, and now he's an artist when it comes to building. Oh, I don't mean he builds amazing buildings or anything like that. But, just let him build you a kitchen or bathroom and I guarantee, you'll see God in the details!

We have been called to write. There are struggles in everything we do. We learn and grow along with those struggles. We work on our craft, hone our skills and wear out our shoe leather, voices and fingers. We are running a race as it were, pressing toward the mark. God has set the pace for us. He has placed our feet upon the path-of-our-journey and commanded us to "walk and not faint." He is there to pick us up when we fall and guide us when we cannot see. All for this purpose...to bring Him glory.

I am reminded of what He says about us: "...For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future..." Jeremiah 29:11

"Plans to give you hope and a future." That helps me when I forget that He has plans for me. He called me to this and it is He who has the plan and because of this, I have hope.

How about you?

1 comment:

Serenity said...

I so relate to the web surfing and that nagging question, "What am I looking for?" I feel like I consistently take for granted all the things I have that I always wanted, and I only focus on that one prize I don't yet have - publication. I think maybe I've been looking for an easier way as well. When what I need to do is just keep writing.

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