What Would You Have Me Do, Lord?

Every so often we writers get into slumps and question why we write. Does it matter?

I fell into this trap yesterday. Re-editing the three books in my series for inclusion into a set, has been more daunting than I expected. It has also been humbling. How could I publish such drivel? Who would want to read it? So, why bother?

Unlike other times these thoughts have plagued me, I turned to prayer, asking God what He would have me do. He answered.

As has happened before, I have confused my listed readings and read one meant for another date, and there was my answer.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe him, of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach if they have not been sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things? But all do not obey the gospel. For Isaias said: ‘Lord, who hath believed our report? Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say: Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the whole world.’”

Romans 10:13-18

Once before God told me to write my stories that through them others might believe. (See Lions, Why I Write) One reader messaged me sometime back. “Your book is answering many of my questions.” How easy it is to forget those words, encumbered with the drudgery of writing and editing.

And so, I press on, doing the physical work of sharing His Word through stories, leaving the rest in His hands. Seems rather fitting as we enter the season of Advent. By sharing our stories peppered with His Word we become like St. John the Baptist a “voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias.”

John 1:23

Posadas

Photo: OZphotography@FreeDitgitalPhotos.net                    

During this season of Advent there are many scriptural references to the blind seeing, the lame walking, and the poor feasting. It’s a beautiful, comforting image, for who among us has not suffered? Even those born of privilege suffer. They may not worry about food, clothing, and shelter as do the very poor, but they suffer in other ways.

When we lived in a wealthier area, people were polite, civil, but mostly cold. They didn’t go out of their way to say, hello, or even acknowledge my existence. I think they knew instinctively by my dress, my mannerism, or by some other secret code, that I wasn’t one of them.

Tending toward being an introvert, I didn’t much care. However, when we moved out further into an area with a bigger mix of economic strata, I experienced a radical change in the people around me. There were more smiles, hellos, and Good Afternoons. People I didn’t know chatted in the aisles, and helped load large items into my car.

One man actually chased my husband and me down in the parking lot of one of the garden centers.