From Edie: Martin Wiles helps writers discover the unexpected extras God gives beyond book sales and awards, and learn how gratitude transforms your writing journey and calling.
The Unexpected Extras God Gives Writers
by Martin Wiles @LinesFromGod
Surveys show that the younger generation is enthralled with things the older generation (yes, I’m a “Boomer”) experienced, as well as things they wore, possessed, etc. And as a Language Arts teacher of middle schoolers, I’ve found the research to be spot on.
I love telling stories of how things were when I was their age, and they love listening—especially if it takes up class time and might mean I forget to give them homework or don’t have time to finish the planned lesson (we’ll ignore any improper motives here and think the best of them).
My favorite introduction to any of these stories is “Back in ancient times.” And almost any story I tell them helps them see the extras they now enjoy that I didn’t.
On one trip to our little country church with four of our grandboys, my wife and I discussed the state of their minivan, which currently had no working air conditioning. They complained about how hot it was to ride in—the summer heat had arrived. They planned to have it repaired, but they had been suffering for a couple of weeks, which in their mind was unbearable. How could anyone survive under such conditions? Ahh, a chance to talk about the “ancient times.”
In the 1960s and early 1970s, many new cars came without what we now consider standard features—air conditioning being one of them. But there were others, such as radios, power windows, and automatic transmission. If a buyer wanted a vehicle with such luxuries, they had to pay extra and sometimes order them.
The news shocked our grandboys. I felt as if I had ridden on the ark with Noah or struggled through the wilderness with Moses and the children of Israel. I get the same type of reaction from my students. The look that asks, “How old are you?” But back in the day, extra entailed extra, and standard meant standard.
Jesus also spoke about the extra. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJV).
In comparing Himself to Satan—the one who comes only to steal from us—Jesus said He came to give abundant life. Extra life. Like owning a vehicle with the “stuff” that most didn’t come with at the time.
We writers of fiction and non-fiction also get extras. Because of God’s gift to us, we get to createdevotions, short stories, articles, lessons, Bible studies, and novels that have never existed before and that no one will ever duplicate exactly at any time in the future.
Some of us get extras in the form of awards or best-seller status for our books. And others get that special extra to write for places that influence thousands—perhaps millions—but can’t pay us one cent for our work. For some, the extra is touching that one person with our writing that no one else could. And perhaps, we’ll never know this side of eternity that we did. Some get multi-contract offers from traditional publishers, while others never land an agent and self-publish.
Whatever our “extras” entail, we should thank God for each one, not be jealous because other writers received more extras than we did. Why not pause and thank Him right now?
TWEETABLE
No comments:
Post a Comment