Anyone who has ever had to write a paper or article would know how challenging that can be. On the rare occasions that you are inspired, the words just flow. But more often than not, you can find yourself stuck. And if you have to meet a deadline, you face the very real possibility of submitting sub-standard work. Every writer knows, that even if you have all the time in the world to research, plan, and write, if there is no inspiration or conviction, what you write falls flat.
I had a writing deadline to meet today. I had to write an article for our parish’s Adult Faith Formation Newsletter: KAIROS on the theme of lay (i.e. ordinary, non-religious) Catholics being ‘Leaven for the World’. My work schedule has been so packed the last 2 weeks that I literally had no opportunity to think about this article, let alone research or write. Furthermore, I am needed to drive my colleagues to several Catholic schools this afternoon to promote Paul the Musical to the Religious Education Coordinators (as I have been doing the last two days). Thus, I only had this morning to write.
I ended my day yesterday at 10:30p.m. and I was too tired to do anything about the article. This morning I woke up, had a leisurely breakfast, put laundry into the washing machine and replied some urgent work-related e-mails before settling in to write.
Wonder of wonders, I wrote a 995 word count article in 90 minutes! Everything I needed just came when I started to write. Somehow I found the right resources in my searches online, I knew which scripture passages to refer to, and even the tone and angle with which to write this article JUST CAME TO ME. The experience was AWESOME. For I know too well the drudgery and frustration of wanting to write, needing to write, and not being able to write. If I could write like this for my PhD dissertation, I could be done in a matter of weeks! LOL. But that time has not yet come.
The moment I sent the article off to the editor, I let out a loud WHOOP and yell to God, “YOU ROCK! YOU SOO ROCK! YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!” There is no doubt in my mind that I did not write the article with my own resources. It would have been impossible. Neither do I care whether or not my article is accepted, or whether or not it will be chopped up by the editor. Why? Because I know GOD LOVES ME!
Now, I am done with time to spare to write this journal entry before I leave for church, join my colleagues for lunch, and go off on a wonderful afternoon of evangelization to the schools!
Lord, I love you so much! You are sooo awesome. Truly you fulfill your promises to help me and hold me up with your saving right hand as you said you would in Isaiah 41:10. I have nothing to fear, for YOU, Yahweh, are my God! Thank you. LOVE YOU!!!!
Journey of the Heart 