I can’t take any credit for anything in this post. First,
for well, the obvious reasons…like the title of this post. ;-) And second
because I wouldn’t have been led into this truly glorious fellowship without a little
bit of help from Allen Arnold.
I’ve sat through two of Allen Arnold’s classes now about the
creativity—the freedom—of writing with God.
It’s a freedom that isn’t confined by how many words you
have written in a day or pages edited.
It’s a freedom that isn’t barricaded by demands and
restrictions that whisper insecurities that tell you, you’re best effort isn’t good
enough.
It’s a freedom that gives you permission to walk away and
walk with God when the prompting tells you to get up and take a stroll.
It’s a freedom that has set my writing on fire.
I’m amazed what consciously choosing to give my writing time
to the Lord has given back to me. In word count, in enthusiasm, in maximized
time for the most impact. Instead of a process that drains my creativity energy
at the end, I’m feeling energized and alive with this creativity that is driven
solely on the wings of the Lord’s mighty and sustaining breath.
How does this look for my
writing life? (Hint: this won’t be the same for you. Just a warning. It might
look a bit like mine, but it won’t completely. Because you are your own unique
creation in Christ.)
It looks like taking the time to pray through my writing
before I start. It looks like forgiveness—aimed at myself. When I don’t measure
up to what I think should be my earthly standards. It looks like taking pleasure
with whatever I can write today—one hundred or one thousand words.
That last part was the hardest mindest to change—and continues
to be so. Because it’s a mindset that is so deeply engrained in us goal-driven,
type-A obsessed individuals.
Are you going to be ok if you write less than a thousand
words when you sit down to story-craft?
Writing with God tells you that you will be ok with any and all results.
Because it’s no longer about you trying to produce words out
of thin air, it’s a linked arm partnership with the Creator of the universe to
knit this story together.
When you can step out of the realm of your goals and step into the hand in hand partnership of writing
with God, you’ll have a release of freedom to put words on the page that will
fuel excitement for the this writing world that you thought you had lost.
Friend, it’s well, well
worth the effort and time spent to dedicate each and every writing moment to
God. And asking Him to partner with you in the creative process. After all, He’s
the author of creativity.
Oh, and by the way? If you can ever sit under one of Allen’s
classes, I heartily, 100% recommend it!
CLICK TO TWEET:
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Casey Herringshaw is a homeschool graduate and has been writing since high school. She lives in colorful Colorado where she gets to live her dream stalking--er--visiting with her favorite CO authors.
Casey Herringshaw is a homeschool graduate and has been writing since high school. She lives in colorful Colorado where she gets to live her dream stalking--er--visiting with her favorite CO authors.
"The freedom of writing with God..."
ReplyDeleteThanks for these words. A beautifully written blog post.
Blessings on your writing.