With the deadline
approaching, I drew a blank. More troubling, I didn't know why.
For the past year
as a columnist for the magazine, I've been able to count on a topic
occurring in time.
But Monday, three
days before the deadline, my mental cupboard was still bare. And
other commitments for the next two days would keep me away from the
keyboard. So I threw myself on the mercy of the editor and asked for
a week's extension.
No problem, she
said.
Even with the
deadline pressure relieved, nothing came to mind. I told myself I'd
write it the next Saturday, and I turned my mind to other projects.
Thursday the topic
arrived in my email in-box—twice. Two distinct news items converged
to illustrate a development of interest to the column's readers. I
knew what I'd write about on Saturday.
But I forgot to
tell my subconscious. About 2 a.m. Friday I awoke, my brain racing
with ideas for how I'd develop the article. If I wanted to get back
to sleep, I had to record those thoughts. I took a sheet from a
page-a-day calendar into the bathroom, turned on the light, and
filled a page.
Saturday morning
the notes on the back of the Dilbert page still made sense,
and the column's text fell into place.
Next time the ideas
don't come, maybe I'll trust that I simply need to wait.
6 comments:
This is great encouragement to me. I have had this many times. Most recently with my WIP. I wanted to be ready for ACFW 2013. I think it needs more time. So hard to be patient, but so worth what emerges.
So many times, just waiting for inspiration! I find a couple miles at the track in nice weather brings out lots of ideas, some good...some not so good, erggh. But it does help to refresh the brain!
I often am scrambling to come up with a topic for home school articles I write. Once I have the topic, the ideas usually flow quite well. Every once in a while the Lord gives me an idea in advance, but most times I'm relying upon Him to give me the inspiration.
I have an article due in 2 1/2 weeks, but still no idea has presented itself yet. I guess I need to keep praying. :)
I wake up every Friday morning scared I won't have an idea for my weekly devotional newspaper column, which I've been writing for 16 years. I ran out of Michele long ago. I pray, "Lord, what do You want to say?" He's never failed me yet. But it's still scary facing that blank screen. Still learning trust, still learning Hebrews 13:5. Thanks for sharing.
My problem is my tendency to consider "wait" a four-letter word to purge from my vocabulary. But as you pointed out, that word holds numerous blessings.
Thanks for the great reminder.
Waiting is never my first choice, but I'd like to think there's a reason when the words just don't come.
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