Why I Write

If someone were to ask me why I write, I would have to reply, “Why not?” It is part of who I am.   As a child, my love of a good story often got me into trouble at school. I would hide my library book, usually  a mystery, behind the pages of a bulky school text. That is probably the reason my grades suffered in other areas, especially math.

At night, my mother would often find me hiding under the bed sheets reading. This was after she had told me more than once to turn out the lights and go to sleep. I focused on the page with the help of a flashlight I had pilfered from Dad. As with most avid readers, I love the written word. I had dreams of being a famous writer one day, cut off from civilization, living life like Thoreau. I had no trouble, even as a child, imagining what it would be like to live on Walden Pond.

Because of my fascination with nature, my first attempts at writing were about God’s divine creation. I wrote rhyming poems to express my love for everything outdoors: the spring flowers, the fall colors, dancing snowflakes and summer showers. I cringe now at my early endeavors because although I very seldom write poetry today, I prefer free verse.

For me, writing has become more than just playing with words. During times of trouble in my life, the written word has served as a catharsis. Keeping a journal, writing letters to God or making a list of goals has helped me to regroup, refocus and redefine my life.

After taking a six-week fiction-writing course at a community college, I completed ten chapters of a romantic suspense novel. Even though the writing instructor said I had a talent for that genre, I could never finish the book. I was going through a rough time in my life—separation and eventually a divorce. Only after this painful experience did I come to realize what was missing in my life. I grew up in the church. I believed in God. I knew of Him, but I didn’t know Him.

As my relationship with the Lord has grown, so has my writing. Knowing Him has opened my heart, my eyes and my ears to a deeper understanding of life. With a wisdom born from failure and forgiveness, I have committed my writing to His glory. At my core, I am a woman seeking more of Him and His will for my life. I hope one day to hear those wonderful words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”