For years I never wrote anything longer than a grocery list. I’d given up journaling—as a mom of three boys, I thought sleep was a better use of any rare spare moments I might have. But when my youngest headed to school, the need to scribble down my thoughts resurfaced.
Since then I’ve written five books (two are published, three are in desperate need of rewriting). More importantly, I have grown in faith, wisdom and purpose. I can honestly say I’ve become a different person because I write.
There are four kinds of writing: practical, reflective, creative and informative, and although you may not practice all four types, I think it’s fair to say, if you’re literate, you do engage in practical writing. Things like dry – cleaner’s lists and thank – you cards, work reports, school essays and emails. These are the work writings necessary in day – to – day life, but they’re not a lot of fun. And because they’re not much fun, they give other kinds of writing a bad rep. If writing is work, why would you ever want to do it if you don’t have to?
God created humankind in His own image (Genesis 1:27).
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God (John 1:1).
We should write because through writing we reflect God.
Over the past few years I have interviewed dozens of Canadian Christians who write. I’ve asked why they write, what they’ve learned about themselves and about God through writing, how writing has changed them. And I’ve discovered several common themes. Whether writers are professional or amateur, most use writing as a tool to sort their thoughts. They ask questions. They challenge their preconceptions. They explore their emotions. Often in a journal. This is reflective writing.
Barbara Wood started to write to overcome sexual abuse, and she turned to writing again to deal with the loss of her husband. She says: “Writing strengthens my faith. I have this record, my own lines of pain and suffering. And I can look back and see how God met me and made things better.”
Children’s author and artist Jan Cox writes questions to God and records His answers in the form of poems.
Nationally acclaimed poet Violet Nesdoly shares what she learns in her daily quiet times in a devotional blog.
Humourist Tim Cooper says: “The world can be a confusing, frustrating place. Writing humour is how I make sense of the world.”
New York Times bestseller Ann Voscamp says writing forces her to step out of her business, to slow, and truly see God’s hand in the world and events around her.
In the Christian realm, creative writing is often seen as second class. I know I’m guilty of that prejudice. I’d rather write insightful tomes like Philip Yancey or Mark Buchanan than my own simple mysteries. Somewhere along the way I’ve absorbed the mindset that fiction is frivolous. It’s indulging in what Paul referred to as vain imaginings (Romans 1:21).
Bill Fledderus has a different perspective. He is senior editor at Faith Today, and teaches creative writing at Redeemer College, Ancaster, Ont. “I love God’s good gift of imagination, and I think when we exercise that gift we become incrementally better image – bearers of God, more compassionate, perhaps slightly more able to offer love without conditions. I wonder if God doesn’t use our imaginations to help cultivate the ‘fruits of the spirit’ in us.”
J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis are renowned for their creative expression of biblical truth in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Narnia series, respectively. Christian authors pen their own tales of gentle prairie romances like Canadian superstar, Janet Oke, nail – biting suspense like Ted Dekker, or legal thrillers like John Grisham. Like Jesus’ parables, the truth woven within these stories can be clear or veiled.
Fiction is not the only way to write creatively. Museum curator and historian Nova Bannerman records local history, the interesting people who lived where she now lives, and how they reacted to their situations and times. “I don’t want the stories I know to be forgotten,” she says.
Covenant award – winning songwriter Ali Matthews believes sharing hopes and heartaches is an integral part of Christian community. “I pour my creative energy into songwriting because the result is a beautiful connection between grace, fellow travellers and our Creator.” For Ali, writing is a powerful tool that connects us in ways that often transcend our own understanding.
Many Christians write to inform others. They want to share, educate, help and impact change.
Claudia Loopstra: “I write because I want others, particularly those who have lived with an alcoholic parent, to know about the wonder of God’s grace and forgiveness.”
Patricia Elford: “I write to help people know scripture does not need to be ‘brought alive’; rather it is alive, and I write to help them to recognize and celebrate that fact.”
Eileen Dahl: “I discovered early that when I wrote honestly about my [cancer] fears, they weren’t quite so scary and I was better able to manage them.”
Lloyd MacKay: “Writing has been a good way to think through faith, social, business and community issues and tell stories about people who have shaped their communities on these subjects.”
Ray Wiseman: “Writing gives me an opportunity to communicate and proclaim my faith even better than during my short time as a pastor or missionary.”
But not all writing should be for public consumption. I find it surprising that Mark Buchanan, arguably one of Canada’s best writers, says for him, writing is a form of worship and prayer. Even if God is the only one who hears, who sees, who cares, it’s enough.
He writes for an audience of One.
I, too, believe all of our writing should have one ultimate purpose. Whether it is practical, reflective, creative, or informative, our writing will reflect the One who made us. Writing is our act of worship. Our gift to the God who made us in His image. In the image of the Word.
