You ever click along feeling like you’re making tremendous progress only to realize that the reason you’re so far ahead is that you forgot something? Welcome to my Friday morning. I forgot to write a post in the ‘before theater shuttle’ part of my morning. Now I’m having to do it in the ‘work on Contingency edits’ part. Rats. Oh well.
Friday update: I am on Chapter 23 of 25… Woo Hoo! Then of course comes the next read through, and proofing etc. So it’s still gonna be a while before it’s ‘done’. I’m also starting to formulate a plan for where we go from here. It’s looking like Claire’s book.
What have I learned this week? I found a group, Writer… Interrupted, that pulls together writers who are trying to balance the call to write with the rest of life. It’s comforting to see some of the same folks here as belong to TWV2 and that I connect with on Twitter. It gives me a great sense of community and proves once again that it really is a small world. I learned how to sync Facebook, Twitter and my contact list in Outlook through Plaxo. I downloaded TweetDeck but haven’t had a chance to use it much yet.
What have I read? I finished Steve Arterburn’s Healing is a Choice. He begins the books by asking what appears to be a ‘duh!’ question- do you want to be well? But on further examination, it becomes a deep, compelling question. Healing is rarely the instantaneous event we read about in Scripture. When God heals us today, it is more often spiritually and emotionally, and it is a long arduous process. It is through the process that we are blessed with a deeper understanding of God’s heart and our own frailties.
The chapters outline ten steps necessary for this process, and ten things we’ve heard or will tell ourselves to keep us from taking any of those steps. Each step is simple, straightforward and Biblically sound. Simple- yes, easy- no. I found myself agreeing wholeheartedly in Chapter 1 where the author encourages us to open up to those around us, to share our burdens and seek help from others. It is the absolute truth, and definitely the first step to healing of any kind. In Chapter 5 where he cautions against trying to figure everything out ourselves, I saw myself and the years I wasted doing exactly that. In Chapter 8 on choosing to risk and not reflexively insulate myself from any more pain, I had to back up and admit that area needed a lot of work! The companion workbook is my next project where I can take the opportunity to examine the topics in more detail after reading through the book.
Summary: Excellent, engaging, readable framework for the healing journey. (Journey… not single event.)
What did God teach me this week? Church camp finished up, and God taught me that our weaknesses not only teach us to depend on Him, but show how we fit together in the body of Christ. In order to carry out His commission, my weaknesses are offset by someone else’s strengths. I don’t think God ever intended for us to freelance, and in bringing us together He shows His wisdom, glory and grace.
Jordan McCollum says
At least it was “just” a blog post and not . . . say, a major event in your book!
Healing is a Choice sounds really interesting!.I may have to take a look!
(Here from Rachelle Gardner’s blog party)