Is today a gray winter day? Why not slow down, grab a cup of tea, and join us for another look at our “Legacy of Faith”?
Some of my readers know that I have authored five books, and my stories have been included in many Chicken Soup for the Soul collections. But other authors have had a major impact on my life. Some, like Marlene Bagnull, have encouraged me by teaching me practical skills such as how to prepare a book proposal to send to a publisher. Other authors have challenged me with their excellence in writing.
When I read a book by someone like Jan DeHartog or Rumer Godden, I feel humbled. Their excellence of writing puts my own feeble efforts to shame. They can develop characters that are vivid and remain fresh in my mind years later. Their plots are strong. The setting of each book becomes another character, creating a powerful mood. When I turn the final page of one of these books, I lie back in amazement and say, “Wow, God!” Their writing also impels me to stretch and improve my own efforts.
The Lord too is an excellent writer. Over several thousand years, He developed a plot line that revealed His passion for mankind. The characters in the Bible are complex, not simply black or white, good or bad, but nuanced and unforgettable, like Joseph and David and Daniel. In 2 Tim 3:16, St. Paul (yet another author!) explains that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” God’s writing has a far greater impact than anything I could ever aspire to accomplish.
You may not be an author, but perhaps you have been impacted by an author’s writing. If you have read a book or seen a video that touched your life, why not pass along the title to a friend today?
[If you have never watched a short video called “Butterfly Circus”, I can recommend it. You can find it on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnzEIqbBVK0.]
