Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Threefold Cord (04/12/12)
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TITLE: The Yellow Slip Road | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jody Day
04/19/12 -
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Okay, three rejections, three deep breaths. But the exhale only sounds like the air being let out of my dreams. Where is my affirming self-talk? Where is my silly song about following the “Yellow Slip Road” to success? I look at the little stack of credits on the corner of my desk. A few magazine articles, a few published poems, several devotionals. I feel myself trying to step across the land mines of self-doubt and discouragement. I hit one, dead center. The explosion is deafening.
“I spend way too much time on this. Maybe I’m just not any good. I can’t believe the money I’ve spent on conferences, dues, contest fees, educational courses. I’m too old. This is never going to happen. I’m not impacting anyone’s life, I’m just wasting time. I could live longer not trying to juggle ministry, a full time job, family responsibilities, and writing. I should probably just sit in the corner and crochet. At least a baby will benefit from a blanket.” I look at the freshly edited chapter of my current project and then look at the paper shredder beside my desk.
This is not good. Not a whisper of purpose or confidence remains. I need reinforcements. I reach for my phone.
“Don’t lose faith. The fact that you feel called is a revelation, and faith is obedience to revelation, remember? Come on, don’t give up.” Thanks, Friend, but am I called? Because all this work is not reaping any kind of harvest. I heard at a writer’s conference that if it’s not a calling, it’s an offering. Maybe my offering is just not acceptable.
“Don’t stop hoping, Girfriend. Remember that your hope is on a sure foundation. You dream isn’t just pie in the sky, it’s built on a solid rock. You write for Him, and His words never return void.” How come my friends have a better handle on this than me?
“Who cares about rejections? You love it, don’t you? You cannot NOT write. First Corinthians 13 is just as much about your writing as anything.” Wow, hadn’t thought of that. Here comes a brainstorm.
I do love to write, and love is patient (gotta have that), kind (toward those critiquing my work, and when I critique the writing of others), does not envy (the success of others), is not boastful, is not conceited (humility in self-promotion), does not act improperly (has the highest standards), is not selfish (helps other writers), is not provoked (when three rejections hit the inbox on the same day), and does not keep a record of wrongs (yellow rejection slips). Love finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails (I Cor. 13, Holman). Now this is something to meditate on.
And then it hit me. “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love (1 Cor. 13:13). That’s the threefold cord for writers, or this writer anyway.
I’ll try that deep breath again. Yes, here it comes.
“Onward!”
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Nicely written. Thanks.
God Bless~
How I know how that feels! The descriptions you use throughout this piece totally captured my heart and attention. The part about faith being obedience to revelation really touched me. I had also not thought of 1 Corithians 13 being applied to writing. Very thought-provoking!
Keep writing, it won't be in vain!