Into the Fire

What I mean is that I am not cerebral. I admire those who are but only if they’re grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ. Intelligence which leads someone away from the Lord instead of to Him seems like such a waste of the gifting.

I can remember the discussions from my college days—brief as they were, the days not the discussions. A few of my friends had some fairly active brain cells. After a point, the conversations became like experimental intellectual exercises on innumerable topics of thoughts, interpretations, ideas. All things university. For a while: intriguing, but after an hour of listening to young minds expound on all things related to self discovery, I found it all to be exceedingly boring and lifeless. I didn’t have the capability at the time to present Real Life in Jesus Christ: I didn’t know Him. What I did know was if those idle reasonings from college head cases were all there was going to be in the future of education, I wanted no part of it.

After relocating to the racetrack, my vocabulary diminished significantly and became redefined. The talk of the trade replaced my usual speech, and I even taught myself how to cuss and swear. Not easy for me, but with concentrated effort I managed over time. As wonderful as horses are, they can incite dramatic expressions once in awhile. Equally difficult was learning to say “ain’t”. Phew, that was a tough one, and I admit to using it more in joking than as a regular insertion to my sentences.

Writing has been a part of my life since I was very young. Stories, poetry, essays, more stories, and more poetry. During my racetrack years, I wrote far less until the last several years began the fresh journey into novel writing. Character-driven novels with a generous dose of romance, not quite at today’s perceived “literary” level—those are what I write. Contrasting the world’s view of relationship, romance, love, and sex to God’s view: the prevalent theme.

Although I’m not brilliant, I am spiritual and that spirituality is inherent in everything I write. Not glossed over or hinted at. There. An integral part of the story. A contrast. Lost and found. All kinds of characters. Choices to make. Real life.

God, I am compelled to include you, to display your glory in the words you’ve given me. Let them bring you glory somehow. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.