Writing is baring the soul, painting with words. Write freely, and discover yourself on the page.
I have that quote from a conference pinned on my wall. I don’t even remember who said it.
But this week, the writing has been hard. My anxiety has pushed back. My attention has been distracted. And my interruptions have been many.
Still, like all writers, I sit and type.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:30 ESV
This scripture has been on my mind a lot recently. It’s a challenging principle to embody. While we may outwardly express a desire for God to take center stage, there’s often an internal murmur hoping for our own elevation too.
“Hey, God. I want you to increase. But, if I could increase a little as well that would be great.”
This tension magnifies when you’re an author striving to both write and promote your work. In an industry where building a platform is crucial, humility and contentment become the elusive virtues we all seek.
Too much success can lead us to erect personal empires, while too little can trigger jealousy, causing us to undermine others’ accomplishments.
My aspiration as a writer is to capture the hearts of young boys and men who are disenchanted with reading. I want to turn their apathy into a love for storytelling.
Yet, when they follow me, on social media, my blog, etc. I don’t want them to see a cultural warrior steeped in politics or riveting with anger. I want to aim for them to see a reflection of Jesus. Have I succeeded in that?
So, how does one sideline their ego? How do you arrive at a point where you’re comfortable with being sidelined yourself?
It’s a tough conundrum.
At the end of the day, our mission as authors should be to inspire thoughts that lead people closer to Jesus.
Do my stories do that? Does my presence?
In parenting, each mistake is a lesson, each joy a treasure. Love, guide, and watch them grow.
It’s hard.
I’ll be honest: I’ve tried to read the Bible through in a year, and I can’t do it. Each attempt leaves me feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. The structure, rather than helping me, I find becomes a hurdle. I’ve realized it’s not the right fit for me, and that’s okay.
I grow Spiritually (for lack of a better phrase) by wrestling with individual verses, dissecting their meanings, and pondering their relevance in my life.
Sometimes, I’ll even do a deep-dive study into a specific book for several months, going verse by verse.
Quality over quantity and relationship over immediate knowledge is what we should pursue. What’s important is finding a method that works best for you.
The only key is- A daily habit.
One of the biggest irritations I have as an author is hearing someone say: “I don’t read, I don’t have time.”
Finding time to read can be a challenge in our busy lives, but it’s crucial for personal growth and relaxation. My advice: Start by identifying idle moments—waiting for appointments, commuting, or even 10 minutes before bed. Turn these snippets of time into your reading sanctuary. Small steps lead to big gains; even a few pages a day can add up to entire books over time. Make reading a habit, not a luxury.
