Writer's Block

Writer's block. All writer's get it at one point or another. I've had cases of it in the past but this one has hit me harder than Terry Tate on an office guy. My counter creeps up closer to 1000 visits every day. In fact, today, it is at 997. Now, there can be a couple explanations for the number being so high. 1. That many people actually want to see what I've written. 2. (a little more likely)there's been about 200 actual hits on the page and the other 797 hits are accounted for by accidental viewings (you actually meant to go to boanerges - it's really OK. Nate does have more content) and me reloading the page 20 times a day to see if I had any more hits.

Well, whether you're here to actually purposely came here to read what I've written or you've stumbled on it by accident or you are just loading the page to inflate my visitor counter, I'm posting again. This doesn't necessarily mean that the writer's block is gone, it just means that I made like a college term paper and decided to write fluff. Unlike a college paper though, you may come across something worth reading. Also, I must insert here that it's not that I haven't actually started working on blog entries since Monday, October 23. I've written a few things actually. Not one of them really made me feel that they were worth posting (or finishing for that matter!). And the posts that have been amazing, worthy to be viewed as one of the greatest contributions to American... no. World literature never really seemed to stick in my mind long enough to get it home and on the computer. Here's the scene. I'm sitting at my desk at work and the most amazing works I could possibly ever write would come to my mind. Only it must have leaked out of my ears somewhere between there and home because every time I had the opportunity to write, I had either totally forgotten about it or couldn't remember what it was. So, I've been dry as the Sahara for the past month.

I am encouraged in the fact that some of the greatest writers, musicians and artists break their worst cases of writer's block with some of their greatest works. I guess I can hope that this may turn into Mr. Wetzel's Opus.

In an attempt to be open and transparent, I must say that my writing skills haven't been the only thing running dry lately. It's strange that one minute you can be walking in the lands of fruitfulness, spiritually speaking, and in you're very next step be stomping your way through a desert with no sign of rest or refreshment as far as the eye can see.

We all go through that. The hardest ones to deal with are the long ones. Yeah, you may stumble over an occasional water hole, but it seems like ages since you've tasted of the deep, cool waters of true Joy in Jesus Christ, since you've been refreshed by the fulfilling Word of Christ. You feel as if you cannot take one more step out of exhaustion. You want to sit and wait for death to come, yet something(or someone) prods you to continue plodding along. It gives you no guarantee that it will end soon, only that it will, indeed, end. It is in that confidence that with your remaining few ounces of energy, you push on like Shasta and Breehy-hinny-brinny-hoohy-hah through the desert, with Mount Pire as their guide, from Tashbaan to Archenland with only the thought of reaching Narnia in their their minds.

Surely, I can come up with a few biblical characters who have experienced dry desert or valley experiences only to come out the other side to face their greatest mountain peaks. Job endured loss more than any of us will probably experience, only to be blessed greater than ever before. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own flesh and blood, thrown into jail only to become one of the highest ranking leaders in Egypt. Moses faced imminent death, only to be saved by Pharaoh's daughter. He spent time in the desert only to lead Israel across the Red Sea and to freedom. Israel wandered 40 years through the desert to, at the end of their journey, end up in the Promised Land. Jonah spent three days in the belly of the whale only to do the greatest ministry of his life, leading the wicked Ninevites to revival. These last two are probably the closest and best examples since their valleys were, for the most part, brought on by their own actions, yet the Lord remained patient with them and eventually blessed them.

The Lord has also given us more concrete hope in His Word. I Corinthians 10:13- "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." God has not put us in an desert or valley He has not already planned a way through. Not only that, but will give us the very strength we need to do it! Philippians 1:6- "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." With this I place all my hope and confidence. God is not finished with me. There is more and greater things to come for His honor and his glory. That is my Mount Pire as I plod through this desert. It is with this energy I endure.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.