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thanks for sharing, tim . . . yes, i do have a book idea running around inside of me . . . a children's story dedicated to my four grandchildren . . . will inquire @ library about a local writing group ~ xo namaste, sSurvey
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Testimonial
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| Called to Write |
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I worked for 25 years in a variety of ministry positions: associate pastor with responsibilities for youth and education; street minister; new church start pastor; education specialist with a partner denomination in
I had no difficulty answering the question. What I struggled with was telling the story with passion and enthusiasm – I knew it so well. I was named Timothy and not just Tim because my maternal grandmother said it would sound better if I were to grow up and be a minister. I remember playing “preacher” as a child: I lined up pots and pans and lids and stuffed animals on the kitchen floor and preached to them; I poured a cup of water over my high chair and said something to baptize it.
At the encouragement of my great Aunt Ruth, I learned the birth narratives from Matthew and Luke when I was in second grade and I would repeat them for her and for any visitors we had in our home during December. Each time Aunt Ruth heard me recite the stories, she would say, “I’m sure you are going to grow up to be a minister.”
I continued with more stories and experiences from my childhood and youth that demonstrated that I was “called to ministry.” My answer always satisfied the questioner and the committee. Then I would ask the committee, “Tell me about your calls to be . . .” Whatever their occupations were, I asked to hear the story of call to that occupation. Surprise gripped the faces of those individuals to whom I directed the question, then came nervous laughter.
To ease the unease in the room, I explained my challenging question. I believe we are all called to whatever occupation it is that we have. Sometimes we are not as clear concerning that call as we might want to be. We take a job because we need a job, we need the income. We like the work. But I truly believe that God calls us all to specific jobs. Clergy (regardless of faith or denomination or affiliation) are not the only ones called to their profession. God calls each of us to identify that job or career that best suits us and enables us to be the best contributor that we can be to all of creation.
So it is that I believe God calls us to write . . . not necessarily as our profession but as something that we need to do in order to feel whole. Let me share you another story from my life journey.
Over 40 years ago, as a freshman in college, I declared my intention to go “in care” which is the church term for wanting to enter ministry and undergo all the appropriate studies and procedures. In response to my declaration, Jim Liebnow, associate pastor of the church I attended in my home town, sent me a small vellum document with words written by Peter Marshall, former chaplain of the U.S. Senate, printed on it. I still have that paper. It has yellowed with age. Given that Peter Marshall was Senate chaplain from 1947 – 1949, his words are what we call “non inclusive” language. Usually I make such writings inclusive; however, I ask your patience as I share By what right does a man stand before his fellow believers Bible in hand, and claim their attention? . . . Because he is obeying a “tap on the shoulder.” Because God has whispered him in the ear and conscripted him for the glorious company of those voices crying in the wilderness of life. The preacher is conscious of being called, as we say, and that means that he is responding to an inward urge that could not be resisted . . . an urge that grew into a conviction that only by obeying could he ever find that joy and satisfaction of a life lived according to the plan of God.
This is an article on writing. Why do I quote stuff about religion and ministry? Because By what right does anyone stand before his or her friends and peers, pen and paper in hand, and claim their attention? . . . Because that individual is obeying a “tap on the shoulder.” Because God has whispered him, has whispered her in the ear and conscripted that one for the glorious company of those voices crying in the wilderness of life that give new perspective to ancient truths or emerging realities. The writer is conscious of being called, . . . and that means that the writer is responding to an inward urge that could not be resisted . . . an urge that grew into a conviction that only by obeying could she or he ever find that joy and satisfaction of a life lived according to the call of God, the call of Spirit.
My sense is those words speak to you, the reader, regardless of where you are in your writing journey. Perhaps you haven’t actually written anything . . . at least for publication – yet. Maybe you haven’t even begun to write if only for yourself – yet. Or you have been writing, journaling, working on that book for a long time. Regardless of where you are, you know there is this inner churning or burning or gnawing – an energy that persists and calls you to write.
Maybe you hold feelings similar to those of the prophet Jeremiah. God had called Jeremiah to speak God’s word of judgment upon a wayward people. Jeremiah spoke as given direction from God. But people laughed at him for having the audacity to claim that he spoke God’s word. Listen to Jeremiah’s complaint: “O Lord, if I say, ‘I will not mention God’s name or speak any more in God’s name,’ there is in my heat as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.”
Maybe you have tried to ignore the inner burning to write. Who am I? Who are you? Who are we to write? Who are we not to write?
We share that common yearning. For some the yearning manifests itself in an inner desire to be published, to become famous, to be the next (insert your favorite best selling author’s name here). For now though we’d just like to write and have the writing make sense, sound good, appeal to someone. And so we write. We dare to express ourselves through the written word.
Tim Morrison, Write-Choice Services, Inc copyright 2009 Not to be reproduced without expressed written consent from Tim Morrison or Write-Choice Services, Inc.
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