Category Archives: writing
Fear is a Jerk
Fear is a jerk.
A big, in-your-face, no good, rotten, terrible jerk.
And I lose to him far too often because I give up too easily.
He keeps me from trying new things.
He keeps me from taking chances.
He keeps me from pursing old passions and new ideas.
Take writing as an example. I love the written word and really believe that it has incredible power and effectiveness when used properly. When I’m writing, I feel alive. Life makes a little more sense when I’m able to put words to a situation.
But if I really believe this, then why haven’t I written anything in over a month? I could go with the holidays/had to work/other things came up line. And while this is partially true, it’s an easy excuse to hide behind because it keeps me from facing the real bully in front of me…fear.
If I’m honest, sometimes a lot of the time, fear keeps me from pursuing a craft that means so much to me. I fear what you’ll say about something I’ve written. The fear of publishing something that is just poorly constructed or confusing keeps me from even trying sometimes. I’m worried about what you’ll think about what I write, and consequently, what you’ll think about me based on what and how I write.
Lame, I know, but it’s a real fear.
When I let fear be the jerk that he really is, I automatically lose. But he’s had far too much power for far too long. It’s time to stand up to this monstrous bully and stare him down. He’s won enough battles lately and I’m tired of getting beat up by him.
My friend Chris K. Davidson blogged about fear lately and threw down this challenge…
Let’s develop a fiery, inextinguishable passion for living and thriving. Let’s put ourselves out on a limb. Let us march forward on the path set by the One who knows that everything will be alright in the end. Let us complete what we dream and let us not be disappointed when some of the results are not exactly what we wanted. Let us not be afraid of failure; let us be afraid of not trying.
When 2012 comes to a close, I hope to look back on it and realize that this was the year that I stood up to the bully called fear and won the battle. I want to be able to say that I really understood what it meant to trust Christ enough to walk into the dark, uncharted areas of life knowing that I really have nothing to fear.
Because, really, in the end, fear is just a big jerk.
Your Art Matters
I’ve always been a word nerd. I still believe that words matter and have the ability to change the world for the better.
Writing is my creative outlet. I can’t draw anything to save my life. I don’t have a musical bone in my body (although there was that one attempt in middle school band with a trumpet, but that’s a memory better left in the past).
For a long time, I didn’t think that my love of words had any value and that I couldn’t really do anything with it. I was always hesitant to even call myself a writer, because if I did, that meant that I was actually committing myself to the practice of stringing words together in a coherent way.
I’ve found that writing, at least for me, can be one of the most incredibly frustrating yet overwhelmingly freeing experiences. It’s how I make sense of life and connect with my Creator. It’s been said that writing is like praying with a keyboard. I couldn’t agree more.
For me, writing is my art. It matters. It’s how I grow. It’s how I communicate the goodness and grace of God to my world.
What about you? What’s your art? What’s the thing that you do that, when you’re doing it, you feel fully alive and are able to point people to an incredible God?
Maybe you’re a painter, a photographer, a builder, a composer, a biologist, a teacher, a businessperson, a filmmaker, or a [fill in the blank].
The next time you start to think that you’re not really qualified to pursue your art or that it doesn’t matter, don’t be afraid to push back against that resistance.
Your art matters. It matters because it’s how you grow. It matters because it helps you better understand the love of God. It matters because the world is hungry for art that has significance and that points to something bigger.
Gary Molander suggests that “you don’t need to create art for God. He doesn’t need it. You need to create art in response to God. The world needs it.”
Your art matters. Now go create it.
Monday Musings
- As evidenced by my utter lack of posting lately, I’ve been in a can’t-write-anything-to-save-my-life-funk. I hate it when that happens. I know part of that is Resistance pushing back against me…that little voice in the back of my head saying that pursing writing isn’t worth it. Time to kick Resistance to the curb.
- So there’s this girl. Her name’s Kate. And, well, I’m kinda crazy about her. For reals.
- Thankful I’m getting the chance to learn from and serve with the Cross Point staff team this semester as an intern in the community groups department. I’m getting to work on and learn about a lot of different aspects of ministry and the team has been great about investing in all of us interns as young leaders.
- Bank holidays are a great idea. I’ve never fully appreciated Columbus Day before this year when it got me a day off from work last week. So hooray Columbus!
- There’s something about a fall sunset in Nashville that’s all kinds of wonderful.
- I’ve come to realize that, a lot more than I’d like to admit, I operate out of fear. Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, yada, yada, yada. Lame, I know. Since fear isn’t something that God has given me, I don’t want to hang on to it or walk in it anymore. Hold me to that, ok?
- Grateful for life-giving friendships that have withstood the test of time. I’m blessed to be surrounded by a pretty stellar group of people.
- My friend Chris Davidson has a new album out. You should really go take a listen and download your copy today…you’ll be glad you did!
- Big news in case you missed it! On Friday, President Obama authorized the deployment of 100 troops into Uganda to help find and bring to justice LRA leader Joseph Kony. Check out the update video below…
What’s this all about, you may be saying? Check out the history behind the longest running war in Africa. Regardless of how you feel about the President or international relations, this is a human issue, not a political one.
What about you? What’s the latest and greatest in your world?
Monday Musings
Monday Musings…a random set of facts and thoughts bouncing through my brain this week.
- Thankful for the girl. Kate is an encourager like you wouldn’t believe and she’s constantly teaching me what it looks like to love people well. If you don’t know her yet, you need to. (And be sure to ask her about going herping.)
- Can we all agree to retire questions like “what do you do for a living?” You are more than your job title/life situation. Why not use something like, “What’s your story?” or “What are you passionate about?”
- Transitions can be good sometimes. Transitions can also really suck sometimes. The next few weeks include a lot of transitions for some of my best friends and I that will cause us to go in different directions. I know the transitions will be good…I’m just not looking forward to it. No one said I had to enjoy it.
- Community is messy and hard and beautiful and freeing all at the same time. I’m thankful for the new friends I’m finding in my community group at Cross Point.
- Recently got a new job with Regions and started the intense training process. I’ve never done this much training for a job before, but it’s going pretty well so far. If you ever need to know anything about anti-money laundering practices or the Banking Secrecy Act, just let me know. No robberies yet and I’ve managed to not lose track of my cash box. (And by the way, could I interest you in opening a checking or savings account with us? No? Ok, I see you need some time to think about it. I’ll check back with you.)
- Words are powerful. They can be life-giving or life-draining. Choose yours carefully.
- A “you’re doing a great job” goes so far to boost somebody’s day. Go be a cheerleader for somebody that needs it today.
- I’ve noticed I use the ellipsis (…) way too much when I write…I just throw it in…everywhere…sometimes for no good reason…I need to work on that…soon.
What’s the latest and greatest in your world this week?
Writers Write
Talking about writing, reading about writing, thinking about writing, planning to write is all writing. Don’t listen to people who say it’s not. So do all that stuff. It’s part of the process.
But writers write.
At some point you have to stop processing and start producing. The process becomes writing when it directly results in pages. Don’t slack. Read your guts full and then write your guts out. Open up a vein and bleed.
– Jared Wilson
Harper Lee on the writing process
When asked about what it takes to be a real writer, Harper Lee, author the incredible Pulitzer Prize winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, had this to say…
To be a serious writer requires discipline that is iron-fisted. It’s sitting down and doing it whether you think you have it in you or not. Everyday. Alone. Without interruption. Contrary to what most people think, there is no glamour to writing. In fact, it’s heartbreak most of the time.
I’m learning that this is true. Writing is powerful, difficult, liberating, formidable, hopeful, and heartbreaking … all at the same time. And, as a wannabe writer, I love every single minute of it.
