Some weeks writing comes easier than others

I might as well confess: it’s “one of those weeks.” What I mean is that it’s the kind of week that comes along occasionally for everyone who tries to line up words on a page where none of those words seem to be waiting in line just to be lined up.

On a good week, a column will almost write itself. Fingers fly down the keys, and 30 minutes and a cup of coffee later, it’s done. More often, it takes an hour or two. But some days, like today, I just sit and stare at the computer screen until time for lunch or a nap and I hope that calories or rested brain cells will later combine, before the deadline, to unblock the “blocked” writer behind the keyboard.

A friend recently asked me, “Do you most often start to write with a story, point or illustration in mind, or do you begin with a point in mind and then look for stories and illustrations?”

The answer is, both. For the How To Measure a Rainbow book, based on Ephesians, I tried to hone in on what I thought St. Paul’s main point was in each section, and then I looked for stories and illustrations to try to bring it alive to readers in a new way.

For the Wing Whispers of Love book, and for these columns, I most often start writing about some story or experience and trust that some point will make its presence known before I run out of space.

My friend then asked, “Which approach to writing is harder?” My answer came easily: the first. “And which do you enjoy more?” The second. But I need to do both.

Honestly, I enjoy the column-writing most. As long-winded as I can be in the pulpit and sometimes on paper, I most enjoy writing the short stuff.

Recently I was asked to go to Lubbock, once a week for two weeks, to share some of what I’ve written with a church ladies’ group there. I enjoyed it. The first week, I shared a chapter from the Rainbow book, and that was fun.

But the second week, I just shared with them a couple of essays from the other book and a number of individual columns of different styles and tones and moods. Some were reflective and serious. Some were funny. I think we accomplished our goal — to think a little, laugh more than a little, and simply give thanks to God for his gift of life, a good day and an enjoyable hour together.

And that made me think. I used to worry just a bit when I’d get to the end of a column and realize that, though my column is named “Focus on Faith,” that particular column didn’t deal much with matters overtly religious. Now, I think that may be a good sign. Real faith impacts all of life. All of life impacts real faith. What should really worry us are the times when we catch ourselves becoming all too proficient at separating the two.

Curtis Shelburne is pastor of 16th & Ave. D. Church of Christ in Muleshoe. Contact him at [email protected]