Good Morning!
Honestly, I’m not sure why I am here right now. My fingers just typed the title, and here I sit looking at a blinking cursor.
And something tells me I’m supposed to write this to you.
I didn’t craft the title, I’m simply being obedient to it.
If I had to guess, I just feel like writing, no specific agenda, no targetted audience or message, I just need to write.
Some of us have been doing this a long time, I’m coming up on 9 years of blogging. And at least a few of those whom I follow have been blogging longer than that, some much longer.
Maybe I’m needing to reflect on why I do this, why do I write.
100 followers in 9 years, clearly I’m not doing this for the notoriety, fame, and fortune.
I guess on some level I don’t even really consider myself a valid writer, at least not a talented one, not a validated one, or what.. I’m not even sure where this line of thinking leads.
I suppose I haven’t actually thought of what I consider the important criteria is to be a “real” writer.
When I’m actively writing, spitting out over 135,000 words in a week is not hard.
And Grammarly only captures what I type through a program it interfaces with. It doesn’t capture the 10+ different hand-written journals that I rotate through on a regular basis.
Or the multitude of writing projects I worked on prior to purchasing a Grammarly Premium membership, such as books, work projects, and church materials.
And unless Grammarly doesn’t have very many users, I was shocked to discover that I apparently have a unique vocabulary as well.
I know my vocabulary is not sophisticated, so maybe being unique when compared to “real writers” isn’t revealing an accolade I should broadcast?
But none of that means I write well, or engagingly, or motivationally, or biblically accurately, or in a life transformative way.
It just means I write.
But why, why do I write?
I believe I understand why Stephen writes over at Fractured Faith Blog, he loves it. And I’d risk assessing that he needs it. And in this last year, he has gone from “being a blogger” to “being a published author“.
How amazingly wonderfully inspirationally awesome is that?!?
Watching him grow as a writer, risk as a writer, reveal his struggles and victories through writing, witnessing more followers engaging with his writing, reading the comments from his readers… he is without a doubt, an impactful and gifted writer.
And Caralyn describes why she writes over at Beauty Beyond Bones: “Whatever has brought you here, I hope that through the story of my brokenness, and redemption through the Lord, you are able to find hope, encouragement, advice, healing, support, and comfort.”
Her story touches lives, it touches my life. She provides hope where, for some, hope may no longer exist. She accomplishes all of the things that she hopes to accomplish through her writing.
And it’s starting to pay off. I don’t mean monetarily (although maybe that too, I don’t know). But her likes and comments are starting to grow exponentially, and the speaking and vlog engagements and peer accolades are coming in, her message is getting out there, more people are getting to see and hear her heart and her light-bearing message of hope and overcoming through Christ is impacting… How beautiful is that!!
And my brother Stu at Something to Stu Over is one of the most consistent bloggers I know, cranking out heartfelt struggles and wisdom daily, oftentimes more than once daily.
To read his blogs is to know his life, and it isn’t easy by any means. Recovery, finances, health, relationships. Life is hard, and reading his blog you want to truly come alongside, roll up your sleeves and get on your knees and pray with him. And if that is you, he facilitates an email prayer group fostered from his blog. Real-life is lived out, real struggles, real victories. How inspirational is that!
And I don’t think anybody walks that fine line between grace, righteous conviction and the call to obedience better than T.R. Noble over at Inside Cup. For those who have been introduced to Jesus, one of the hardest things (that I’ve discovered) is finding the truth hidden in the gap between the old dispensation and the new, the Law and Grace. Grace abounds, but life on earth as it is in heaven is found in our response to the Gospel, to the Promises, to the call of the Healer.
She speaks biblical truth with compassion and authority, bread from her own personal life struggles and victories. Her writing makes me want to be a better person, makes me believe I can be a better person. Truly a voice in the darkness!
Or V over at Millenial Life Crisis who just keeps it real. Unfiltered, raw, expository, explorational. And filled with great information to help others navigate the shark-infested inner and outer worlds of everyday life.
What a totally worthwhile endeavor to invest time, treasures and talent into!
Keeping it real seems to be the core message here.
And there are so many more! I actually feel bad not taking the time to mention the dozens of other amazing writers I follow, for each brings something unique and necessary into my life.
You are my mentors, my hope givers, my validators.
And not to say that I need validation directly, it is that I find validation in my life’s journey through being blessed enough to get a peek into yours.
I guess what is stirring in my soul from this reflection is, there is no “right way to write”.
Writing rightly isn’t even a real thing.
A writer, every writer, is only challenged with one criterion, bring the best (and worst) of yourself to the table.
Whether it is through fictional representations of the imaginations found somewhere deep inside, or a transparent ministry of hope and healing found in the deepest recesses of the heart which sheds light in dark places with the intent of guiding others to their own victories, or the instructional wisdom found only in a life that has been there done that, it all matters.
In the end, I suppose it comes down to one thing… a writer writes because he or she has to.
It gives life meaning and purpose. It is our song, it is our painting, it is our manuscript, it is our invention.
It is how we give ourselves away to a {hopefully} receptive world.
I guess that makes me a writer.
Who knew
One Man's Journey of Redemption 
Wow! You don’t know how much your words have impacted me or how they were an answer to prayer. But they mean a lot.
Thank you so much!
You are very welcome.
I guess that is the beautiful outcome when we let our heart write more than our heads, I meant everything I said! Thank you for being a distant yet connected part of my inner-circle.
God is so good at connecting and using people! I’m grateful the words He has helped me write inspire and I’m thankful He spoke through you today. Thanks for following through and writing the post! May it encourage and bless others!
Who knew? You ask. And I say, you knew. Deep down, you knew. Perhaps, like me, it was merely giving yourself permission to write, or to think of yourself as a writer, or even beyond that, to call yourself a writer, out loud, to others.
Either way, you sir, ARE a real writer. And I look forward to following your writer’s journey, from hereon out.
Oh, and I LOVE all your many journals! Please keep them; like forever. 🙂
What’s almost embarrassing is that is only this year‘s journal, I have stacks from years past. I’ve often wondered in fear if I had a heart attack and didn’t have time to destroy the decades of mental and emotional bleeding out on the pages, but I suppose it could be a blessing to somebody if I never got that chance.
Thanks for your reply, it is encouraging. I too am grateful to have run across your site and add you to my list of inspirational authors that make up my inner circle
Those journals, sir, are treasures. Your heart and soul manifest upon those pages. I would hold onto them, no matter what. But that’s just me. I have written things down on paper I’d not want anyone to read, my true thoughts. Private. Personal. But when I’m gone, if someone reads them (throws away or burns them), I’m surely not going to know, or care at that point. 😉 Still, you do what you feel you should. Just sharing my thoughts here.
I agree with Janine! Keep those journals brother! If you don’t destroy them, you are correct in that it would be a blessing to whomever finds them. It just may offer hope to them!
First let me apologize for not seeing this sooner. I am so far behind on reading and I feel terrible about that.
Secondly, thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. I am truly honored and humbled brother. Thank you!
Reblogged this on Something to Stu Over and commented:
Wow! Brother, thank you so much for you kind words and the encouragement! I really needed this today! Thank you so much!
And yes, you are a writer. 😊
I enjoyed reading your post, nothing wrong with your writing it is clear and simple. The number of followers well better to have quality than quantity. I always check people’s followers in ratio to the number of likes they have got for a certain post. To me this tells a lot. I prefer to have helped someone rather than have numerous people liking just for the sake of it.