Because I have written several manuscripts, published three books and have been interested in the written form of communication for about forty years, I decided to learn how to write this summer. It seemed like it was time and I had prayed for help. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the first course or book I have absorbed about writing, it hopefully won’t be my last either. We are a curious people, we should never grow tired of learning new things. This course, however, I am taking a little more seriously. And I paid for it. So, I need prayer.
8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Samuel 3: 8-10
This course is not just about the words, the story or how to edit. It includes all of these things but it is also about accepting a calling. I have felt called to write. Called with a capital ‘C’. When I started writing ‘Rocky Rulers’, there was a very deliberate need driving me to write a story to compete with all the mythology books about dragons, and gods from ancient times. I wanted my daughter to also read about how our God works, our stories, our history. I wanted to present God as a viable option to both entertain and get excited about. He should never be confined to the dull classes about church history or long sermons that she couldn’t relate to on an early Sunday morning. We, as Christians, are encouraged to meet people where they are, no matter their circumstances. We visit prisons, and hospitals. We help at food banks and soup kitchens. This is all great but I still see a lot of empty pews. Where are the young people? Youth groups can help but seem more centered on Lazar Tag than reaching kids at an emotional Christian level. And not all kids are interested in running around in the dark with a bunch of screaming kids they don’t really know, so they pull away from the group and use the hour to talk with the few close friends they came with. I see my daughter come alive when she reads. she is fully invested, researching accuracy, sharing the exciting parts and even drawing character art. These are the kids I want to reach, not preach to, but to engage.
As anyone with a capital ‘C’ Calling, not only do I need to ask God to work through my ministry, but I also need prayer to ward off the Resistance. I do this through prayer. My instructor prays for us and our work during our classes. We pray when we get together with the other students to discuss our weekly trials. I pray when I start writing (most of the time, sometimes I am eager to get started and forget), and I ask you to pray as well. Pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire me. Pray that my health will allow a good writing session. Pray that those who read my work are moved to ask more questions. Pray that the devil will look the other way.
