I used to be a teacher and if a student asked a question, I’d do everything I could to give them an answer. Answers help us make sense of the world. Answers are important.
When I was growing up in church, pastors seemed to have answers for everything. It appeared there was a Bible verse for everything. The formula for life seemed to be set. Have faith. Pray. Believe. Trust and life will work out.
We all know it’s not that simple. I believe that following the Bible’s teaching leads to a better life in the here and now, as well as the promise of an afterlife, however, life is full of contradictions and questions.
2020 is a year like no other. It’s only halfway through the year and we’ve already had bushfires, Covid-19, protests against racism, and so much more.
As writers, we want our characters to struggle with life and thrive with God’s help. We want our characters to reflect the answers we so desperately want for our own lives. And we want to help our readers find those answers.
Recent events have shaken our world to the core and, for many, the rug has been taken out from under their feet, and the floor as well, in some cases.
The answers that we so strongly believe in still hold true, but there are new questions as the world we inhabit changes. How we live, and how we write, may have changed forever.
Those who have been through a depression, a world war, the threat of a global nuclear war, or personal tragedies, and have come out the other side, know that ‘this too shall pass’.
Those who live with prejudice and discrimination live in hope of a day when ‘this too shall pass’.
What will change? How will our writing be impacted? What should we change? What has changed during this season?
I’ve been struggling with these questions during the last few months and, in the learning and unlearning, I’ve been confronted with more questions than ever before.
What do I know for sure? What answers do I have? What answers can I provide during these times? Do I still want to write? What do I write? Can my voice be a part of the answer?
I’m sure many of you are struggling with similar questions. I’m sure your knees (metaphorically and literally) are worn out from prayer.
I’m curious. Curious about where my writing will go from here. Curious about what actions I’ll take in response to learning and unlearning during this time.
If I have the vulnerability and the courage to allow curiosity, it may lead me to places I may not want to go.
Curiosity leads to more questions. More self-interrogation. More adventures of the soul. New ideas, new possibilities, and even new beginnings.
As the world descends into a political, spiritual, and cultural mess, fear is normalised, and life seems to get scarier. How can curiosity help make sense of this?
My default position used to see me draw up my defences. Stick to what I know. Retreat.
Answers that seemed so black and white are turning grey. It seems that the world is turning into a spectrum of extremes, polarised positions, divisions, and conflict.
Curiosity seems to be telling me to let go of certainty and explore new answers. At the same time, I want to cling to my certainties.
So what do I know?
I know God is real. That God is with me. That God has given me a mandate to write. That there is still a lot I can be sure of.
I know that I have questions and that the answers have become more complex. I know I must listen. Must learn. Must unlearn. I know that I must write, even when the answers aren’t clear or easy.
Perhaps it will be our questions, and tentative attempts to find answers, that will help us to write something that will help us to figure things out, and in the process, help others.
Thanks Elaine. For sure the questions of life have increased. It’s as if we get our life sorted and settled, comfortable in the familiar and controlled, and God says, very good-next level for you. Now, as you say, is a great time to listen, ponder, unlearn and learn afresh. My recent idea has been: less doctrine and dogma and more discussion and exploration. I am only sure a few things. God is our creator, Jesus is our risen Saviour, and he will come again. Bless you as we wait upon the Lord, and listen to his voice.
Thanks for the encouragement, Meredith. I like what you said here, ‘ My recent idea has been: less doctrine and dogma and more discussion and exploration.’
Curiosity can lead to new understandings and faith that God will speak to us will sustain us.
Thanks for those thoughts, Elaine. It certainly has been a time for questions, but also opportunities. Because of the fears and uncertainties, there are probably more people than ever before who are open to spiritual things. But as you say, the questions are not straightforward and can’t be dealt with in a ‘pat’ way that just quotes a scripture at the problem. Your novels have been great at opening up conversations on those deep questions. Will look forward to seeing where God leads you in this next season of your writing.
As for me, I thought I’d be blogging on my upcoming novel, but God prompted me to start writing a series of devotions on lessons learned during COVID-19 that we can carry on into the future. That’s been a challenge for me, as I have to grapple with each of the issues in my own life too. Interesting times indeed. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your kind words, Nola. I’ve enjoyed your blog posts during this season. 😊
Thanks for sharing, Elaine. You have put into words what I, and from what I have heard over the last months, and many others have been pondering. There is much for us to be curious about at the moment and to explore what God wants for us to do with our writing and in our relationships. Many blessings.
Blessings to you, Glennis. Thank you for your comments. 🙏