Yesterday I spoke with a friend who agreed to help me redesign this blog. The conversation lifted my spirits. On the other hand I have been discouraged by a few of my family members which really surprised me. A musician I know once told me this: “The criticism just adds fuel to my furnace to work harder and achieve something greater.” In other words, he soaks up encouragement but uses criticism as a form of positive energy to move forward. That is the train of thought I am trying to keep in mind.
A stranger….someone I do not even know….joined my book club on Facebook and sent me a private message of encouragement. I thought it was unbelievable how God uses people all over Social Media to affect people’s lives and impact them to do some amazing things.
Today I submitted five pieces to the Burnside Collective (three poems, one art critique, and one essay). Some of the pieces I have been working on for awhile but others I just recently put together. Remember just because I submit something does not mean it will be accepted. I also drafted some sketches for the blog, scanned them, and sent them to my friend who is going to take a look at that stuff for me. I drew sketches because it would have taken me much longer to do those things on Adobe InDesign.
For some reason, I thought this process was going to be an easy one, maybe not totally easy, but not as hard as it has been. Being or in my case attempting to be a writer is really hard work. Right now I live in Birmingham at home. I really do not know too many people. So I spend a good bit of time at the computer just typing. It definitely feels like an upward battle. Sometimes I forget to just enjoy it. I am writing because I like to write not because I have to. I think in the process of writing this book I have somehow forgotten that. The writing became chore. It became a job. Writing is so much more than that! A piece of literature can change people’s lives, especially those in the faith of God. I just need to remember who I am writing this for. Is it for me? Or is it for Him?
Even without the call to be a great writer, I have to be content with that. I have to be content with the small time (not the big time so to speak…becoming nationally known). While I long to help people in overwhelming masses, that may not be God’s intention for me right now. But I do believe God is at work. The journey is one step at a time, one day at a time. Anything big anyone has ever done usually required a little time and a little sacrifice. I just need to keep in mind that I do get to this, something I love. It is a blessing! For this brief moment in my life, I get to try something a little different. I should be grateful and even motivated despite what others say. Fuel the energy. Move forward. Praise God. And give Him the Glory that He is due!
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