Symbiosis of Faith and Writing

Symbiosis.

“a relationship in which each party is dependent upon and receives reinforcement…”

For me faith and writing cannot be separated. The call of God upon my life to tell stories that point to HIM is deeply rooted. However, this wasn’t always the case.

When I first started writing as a young mom back in the 80s, I didn’t make the connection. The stories I wrote as I pounded at my old typewriter, were fluffy romances with no pretence at having a Christian message. It was all about the personal satisfaction I got from writing and nothing more. Then, about eight years into my manuscript (yes, that first book took me sixteen years to write!) I came to a startling realization. I might be embarrassed if anyone were to read what I had written. It was a bit of a crossroads for me. 

The catalyst for my self reflection came from an unlikely source. I was inspired by the singing group DC Talk. My husband and I used to run the Youth Group at our church and DC Talk was still the hottest ticket back in the 90s. What impressed me was their unwavering commitment to stand up and be counted for Jesus. They were current, famous, respected in their field – yet they did not compromise when it came to the message. There was no doubt who they were singing about in their lyrics. 

I had to stop and ask myself the question, “What will people do if they find that I’m a Jesus freak?” I recognized the voice of fear in that question – a whisperer that was certainly not from God – and determined to proclaim my ‘freakdom’ through my writing. If they could do it, so could I. It was a decision that not only changed the way I wrote, but it changed me from the inside out.

Picture by ID 3547624 © Feng Yu | Dreamstime.com

This post first appeared on InScribe Writers Online, September 15, 2018