“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! …and though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him – a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

            The life of a writer always seemed to be a lonely one to me. As I look back over my life, I can see that I spent many moments hidden. I always tucked myself away to read my bible, write in my journal, or do any of type of creative writing. As I think about it now, I feared rejection and ridicule. I feared not being understood. Fear can become an ugly thing.

            Songs are the one venue I used to fight back against fear. I believed the words for my songs were meant to be shared with others. Every song I have ever written was written to share the gospel in some way, shape, or form. In my mind, they always told a story. A story or lesson for myself and at least one other listener. Life happened and I soon realized that I had walked away from that season.

            Then about 2 years ago, I found myself struggling to figure out what season God was leading me to enter. I had continued to journal and write devotions over the years, but I had a story in my head that needed to be written. The story is fiction which made me very uncomfortable, I can write real life in blog posts or devotions, but fiction required more creativity than I believed I had. God persisted, and soon I found myself attending numerous writers conventions and talking to other writers. By May of this year, I had mustered up about 10,000 words all by myself. Alone.

            Then it happened. I attended Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Convention. It was here that I surrendered and God took my fears away. When I got back home, I met in person with my local writers group (ACFW Kentucky) and I shared 2 pages of my story for a feedback session. What? They were nice! Yes, they gave me honest opinions, but they were not harsh. I found it to be extremely valuable as I continue to move forward with my project.

            I have attended other conferences this summer as well, and they all have contributed to pulling me a bit further out of my cozy closed off era of writing. No, my book is not finished but it has taken a new turn! I have a short story in the editing process that may become the prequel to the original story in my head.

            Ecclesiastes reminds me that I have a choice. I can work alone, struggle, fall down and quit out of fear or selfish ambition; or I can work with others offering my help and seeking theirs, stand up and move forward to accomplish the task. I am choosing to leave fear behind and walk forward with fellow Christians, writers, and friends. My challenge to you. What area in your life are you hiding? Maybe it is time to share it with others.

Blessings,

Kathryn