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February 11, 2007
On Revival and Not Giving Up
I've been a bit discouraged lately. I've been thinking about setting writing aside and dialing down my other responsibilities so that I can get a job waiting tables.
Seriously.
It should be noted that I worked in a restaurant for more than six years and loved it. So the waiting tables thing doesn't completely come out of nowhere. But what I really think it's about is that with most jobs, like waiting tables, you know at the end of the day if you have done what you came to do. You get a paycheck. You complete the tasks set before you. You get feedback from your boss and/or customers. There is concrete evidence of your daily accomplishments, both little and big.
Writing doesn’t usually give you that. It's hard to know at the end of the day if the work you did was good. You rarely, if ever, get paid. Often there is no one setting tasks before you, no one encouraging you to keep going, no one showing you how and letting you know you're on the right track. No one, that is, except for you. And that can be hard. Being your own boss has its benefits but some days I long for someone to give me a list of easily defined tasks with measurable results. I don't even care if the tasks are difficult, as long as the tasks and results are quantifiable.
So, I prayed on it. And here is what I think God had to say.
When I went to church today, first, it was pointed out to me that there was a note in the bulletin calling for writers to work on a church project. That was sign one. Then the pastor spoke on revival. "Revive thy work in me." That spoke to me. I need to be revived.
Then I was watching "Heroes," which I have recently gotten hooked on. In one episode, they repeatedly showed a computer screen with the message: "Are you sure you want to quit? [Yes] or [No]." I kept willing the character to click "No."
I don't know what it all means. But there it is. I think deep down, I am not ready to give up. I think maybe that instead of quitting, I am to be revived.
Posted by Selena at February 11, 2007 05:05 PM
Comments
Hey Selena-
It's Laura, from church on Wednesday night. I understand what you're talking about here. I'm a stay-at-home mom who loves her job, but remembers fondly her work writing feature stories for community newspapers and magazines. I still edit for others and write devos of course, but I often get the feeling you mentioned above - what have I accomplished today? And does anybody care that I did it? Now that I write for "fun" it's easy to get on a cycle of write, write, write for a couple weeks, then have a dry spell. I don't like being inconsistent, but it just happens. So, don't give up, because if you do, I will have too as well. Let me introduce you to some mags you can get your own deovs published in and maybe you'll find new adventure in writing. What do you think? I'm willing to share my gouge with you!
Posted by: Laura at February 16, 2007 02:08 PM
Laura, Thanks for stopping by and posting a comment. Thanks too for the encouragement.
After class Wednesday, I drafted a couple things - one devotional, one Mother's Day - so your class has already helped me get back into writing. I plan to work on them a little more then send them to you in case you want to use them as examples in class. Perhaps examples of what NOT to do. ;)
See you Wednesday! (If not Sunday.)
Thanks again.
Posted by: Selena at February 17, 2007 07:39 AM