Dipping the Quill Deeper: Forgetting the Why of Who We Are

by Eva Marie Everson @EversonAuthor

They were children when they first met in Queens, New York—two young Jewish boys who discovered they sang well together. In fact, their harmonies were something to behold (if one can behold singing). Four years later, as teens, they formed a duo, calling themselves “Tom and Jerry.”

Most things like this—singing duos formed in elementary school that carry through high school—end as soon as rolled diplomas land in outstretched palms. But not so for these two. While in college, they kept at it, but accomplishing little.

Until, after six years, when they recognized a growing interest in folk music. First things first. They dropped their “stage name” and began to call themselves by their last names: Simon & Garfunkel. They released an album, and, as writers ourselves, we can imagine the excitement. But the record didn’t sell well. In fact, it sold only (about) 3,000 copies. Afterward, Paul (Simon) went to England to find work while Art (Garfunkel) stayed behind. Eventually, he rejoined his old pal and, after a while across the big pond, they returned to the States.

Their careers as musicians ran over rocky roads, but eventually the duo became one of the bestselling artists of the 1960s and ’70s. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to say that you never heard one of their lyrical creations. Their awards and accomplishments seemed to know no boundaries. 

Hitting the Road

I bet you’re wondering what this has to do with writing. Hold on. I’m getting there. 

The work of Simon & Garfunkel is among my most favorite. While I consider Art Garfunkel to have one of the most exceptional voices to ever hit vinyl, I also consider Paul Simon to be one of the greatest lyricists. If he writes it, I’ll listen to it. And, most likely, I’ll break it apart and study it. Many of his lines have brought me literally to tears. The man’s a genius.

Over the years, these two toured . . . and sang . . . and toured . . . and sang . . . and toured . . . 

Then, in 1969, Garfunkel decided to try out for a part in the movie, Catch-22. He landed the part and, one day—without his old singing buddy—flew from New York to Mexico to begin filming. Simon stayed behind to work on the music for their next (and last) album. In doing so, he penned a haunting melody of support for his lifetime friend. Sweetly, in the first stanza, he refers to Garfunkel as “Tom.”

And then comes this line: half of the time we’re gone, but we don’t know where and we don’t know where . . .

I’ve Been There

In the early years of my career as a writer and speaker, I often flew into my home-based airport (Orlando), stepped off the plane, walked through the airport, took the train to baggage claim, collected my luggage, went up the escalator to the “departure” level, checked my luggage, got a new ticket, went through security, and found my way to a new gate and a new plane which would take me to a new location. There were other times when I flew in late, then spent the night at a nearby hotel so I could catch an early-morning flight the next day (I live an hour from the airport). 

In those early years, I often kept a piece of paper with the name of the city or town I was in so that when I woke up, I’d remember.

Yeah, it was like that. 

So I understand the line from the song—and it’s one of those that makes me tear up.

It’s Just Too Easy

Now let me tell you why. It’s just too easy to get caught up in the work—the what and the where—and forget the why and the who. We have x-number of words to write today. Or this week. Or this month. We have podcasts to be a guest on. Radio shows. Book clubs. We have articles to pen. We have workshops to create. We have workshops to give. Keynotes to prepare. Keynotes to give. 

Contracts to fulfill. Marketing plans to create and execute. New ideas to formulate. 

Flights and car trips. Hotel rooms and guesthouses. 

Let’s not even get into (for many of us) the house to clean, the laundry to wash, dry, and put away, the dinners to shop for (and cook). And don’t I have children? Grandchildren? A spouse?

In the midst of all this, we hear a whisper. “I’m here,” He says. “I’m waiting for you. Wouldn’t you like to talk?” Sometimes a layer of dust might form on our Bibles. Or our spirit. 

It’s just too easy to get caught up in this business and forget the why. Why He called us. Why we even wanted to be called. It’s too easy to forget the Who.

So, I implore you . . . don’t forget. Or, if you have forgotten, stop. Redirect. Grow quiet and be with Him. Get back to the basics of who you are in Him and who He is in you. Ask Him to never let you get to the point (again) where you fail to stay focused on the most important thing. 

Always know who you are. Where you are. Why you do what you do when you’re there. 

And always remember who He is. Never fail to recognize His whisper.

But wait . . . there’s more . . . next month!

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Eva Marie Everson is the CEO of Word Weavers International, the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference, and the Director of Contests for Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. Her latest work, Ahoti: A Story of Tamar, co-written with Israeli bestselling author Miriam Feinberg Vamosh, released May 14, 2024 (Paraclete Press/Raven Fiction). For more information about Eva Marie, go to www.EvaMarieEversonAuthor.com.