Well, while about half the population (or so it seems) of my fair city has disappeared into the mountains of Idaho to enjoy a glorious extended weekend, I remain in Boise, trying to work on my book while at the same time preparing to leave for Denver next week, making lists (don’t forget to… call so-and-so about…), and trying on clothes to see if they will fit (my weight is up about 5 lbs from last summer, and those 5 lbs make a difference).
On Friday, someone talked to me a bit about the real meaning of repentance (turning 180 degrees and going in the opposite direction) and the problem of holding onto guilt/shame once God has forgiven you for something. Check out my book, The Shepherd’s Voice, to know more of my thoughts on the subject because that was the theme of that novel, born out of a lesson I learned in the mid-nineties. That caused us to talk about how all of my life-lessons eventually find their way into all of my novels. In some ways, writing is my therapy couch, the place where I put on paper what God has taught or is teaching me. Writing makes truths surface so I can look at them, and then they go deeper so that they stay with me.
This morning in Psalms, I read this:
Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD,
who have no confidence in the proud,
or in those who worship idols.
O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
If I tried to [write] all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.
(Psalm 40:4-5, NLT)
The Scripture actually says “recite” but although I love to talk about the Lord with my mouth and do a lot, I most often “talk” about Him in my writing. And the truth is, no matter how many more years I am given on this earth (even another 37 which would make me the age my mother is now), even if I’m able to write until the day I die, I will never come to the end of things to say about God’s wonderful deeds.
Not running out of words is a good thing for a writer.
-rlh-
