Into the Fire

It takes a long time to know yourself. Who you are at 16 won’t specifically be who you are at 30, and at 30 you can look forward to being different at 50 and on through the years. At least you should hope so. Most of us hope to improve our character. Some of us will deteriorate in character.

When you’ve committed your life to Jesus Christ, He promises to refine you, and, as those of us know who’ve experienced the “refiner’s fire”, it’s a much more pleasant experience in hindsight. We learn a lot about who we are and who we’ve been through the heat of life’s significant events, both tragic and triumphant. And mostly we prefer ourselves after each refinement process.

Sometimes dreams and goals stay with us and take only slight detours from childhood to adulthood. Others waver and meander and disappear because they were whimsical or wishful thinking at best. Occasionally, dreams and goals arrive later in life presented at a time when we feel God might have forgotten to supply us with those specifics which seem to drive our friends or associates. They take us by surprise, and we’re amazed at how we can now pursue something with akin to passion which has beforehand seemed oddly absent.

The thing about writing is establishing who you are in the process. Particularly in fiction writing. And particularly in the goals of writing fiction. Some authors are students of the craft, ever studying the task of designing the novel, of perfecting the use of language, of fine tuning plot techniques. Not that anyone who is a professional writer doesn’t inherently desire to improve, but some are compelled to study the craft—perhaps in search of writing that perfect novel which eludes us all.

It seems some authors have established their voice and style and know their limits. They write confidently from their established position because they have a reader base and realize their readers expect certain things from them, and they are comfortable in their niche.

Still other types of authors labor and search for every word, assuming those exact words can be found to satisfy what they desire to say. They write specifically and pointedly and will settle for nothing less than a super effort, believing it is required to produce art.

An unpublished author must decide who they are and who they desire to be. Some writers will tell you flat out that they have no desire to waste their time writing something that won’t be published. Others will work hard and persevere to gain that illusive publishing contract, rewriting, reworking, and being rewarded for their efforts. Still others will go their own way, opting for self-publishing or Print On Demand venues. And still others will bag the process, tiring of jumping through the multiple and seemingly never-ending hoops to find an agent, let alone a publisher.

Writers are told that “good” writing will be published, but it does require perseverance, patience, and persistence. However, we’ve all read those novels that made us scratch our heads and wonder how the writing could’ve been considered “good”. Subjective. Opinion. And sometimes true.

The one thing we must come to terms with when we write for our Lord is this: it’s His call. It’s His work. It’s His plan. It’s His. This doesn’t always take the pressure off in the process, but it should. If you’re not writing for the Lord, then you’re in charge. If you’re a Christian, that should scare you to death. You have that option of course. To do it your way. And you might even be “successful”—in the eyes of the world.

Ultimately, who you really are as a Christian, as a person, as a writer will show up in the words. You will be on display in one way or another—whether your audience is limited to the Lord, your immediate family and friends, or an undefined expanded readership. The refinement in your life at the hands of the Lord will permeate who you are and what you write.

God, you define me and refine me. You can help me to be the best I can be in life, in writing, in all things. I depend on you for my being, for my everything. Help me to always give you honor and to honor you in all I do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.