Learning How to Write

As I read Flannery O'Connor's prose piece titled "The Nature and Aim of Fiction," I realized that this essay should be required reading for those planning to attend a writers' publishing workshop.

Early in her essay O'Connor writes, "I am not, of course, as innocent as I look. I know well enough that very few people who are supposedly interested in writing are interested in writing well. They are interested in publishing something, and if possible making a 'killing.' They are interested in being a writer, not in writing. They are interested in seeing their names at the top of something printed, it matters not what. And they seem to feel that this can be accomplished by learning certain things about working habits and about markets and about what subjects are currently acceptable."

She nailed me. O'Connor certainly identified, with precision, my attitude as I have attended Christian writers' publishing workshops over the past few years. Even though my focus is non-fiction, O'Connor's essay is certainly applicable to me and, I suppose, to others interested in writing well.

The fact is that I have been called by God to communicate through the written and spoken word. So I have written sermons, I have prepared seminars, I have worked on a book manuscript, and I have written essays for applications to graduate schools and continuing education programs. Part of the communication process is writing well; so I endeavor to write so that the reader and/or listener will understand and be inspired by what I have to say.

A few years ago I sat down with an author whose book I had recently read. I knew that this author was not a writer by profession, so I commented to him that I was surprised and pleased that his book was such a pleasure to read. He responded by saying that most people in his profession are not good writers, but that he had taken time to hone his writing skills. This author's work was certainly rewarded, for he successfully communicated his message. An added bonus for him, and his retirement account, was that his book was flying off the shelves.

The point of attending a writers' workshop should be to hone one's writing skills. The problem with my attitude at the writers' publishing workshops was the word "publishing." The point was publishing. As O'Connor so aptly points out, I was interested in publishing something and, if possible, making a 'killing,' seeing my name in print, being a writer, not (necessarily) writing well.

So I continue learning how to write well so that I will be able to fulfill my calling, not with the idea of being "a published author" but of being a pastor, a teacher, a counselor, and a spiritual director--to the best of my ability.

Entering the Most Holy Place

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:19-25

Let's have a discussion based on Hebrews 10:19-25.

Here we have four "words to the wise" based on two most magnificent realities:

Reality #1

We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body.

Reality #2

We have a great priest over the house of God.

Here are the four "words to the wise."

1. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.

2. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.

3. Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

4. Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another.

Here's my question coming from Reality #1.

How would you instruct a new disciple of Jesus to enter the Most Holy Place?
Is that something a person does once for all time (i.e. at conversion)?
Is that something a person does repeatedly?
If repeatedly, how can one practice entering the Most Holy Place?

So there you have it. Consider my question, that comes from reality #1, and express your opinion.

A First Attempt at Poetry

Recently I made a first attempt at poetry with a meditation on Jude 24-25. I have not been able to import the poem into this blog because Blogspot won't accommodate the formatting. So if you would like to read my meditation, just send a request via email to s.bohall@verizon.net.

The attempt at poetry came as a result of two influences. The first was a challenge by the leader of a men's Bible study I have been attending. The first time I sat-in on the study, the leader explained, "We've memorized Jude 24-25 and we recite it together as we close our meetings." He handed me a Bible, pointed to the passage and said, "There, memorize it for next time!" I knew he was saying it "tongue-in-cheek," but took the challenge and meditated on Jude's benediction during the week that followed. I was so struck by the beauty of the passage that I felt compelled to write about it. The benediction itself is a work of art, so my meditation needed to be a poetic response rather than a didactic treatise.

The second influence was the writers' group that I belong to. At least two members of the group write poetry. Through their offerings, I have discovered that poetry can be expressed in many ways; so I thought I would give poetry a try. I plan to present my meditation to the writers' group Monday evening June 21. We'll see how it goes.