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I’ve always found the topic
of “one’s calling” fascinating. We all wonder at times in our lives what our
specific calling is and it’s a topic that has consumed many pages of books,
blog posts, conference notes and so on. It’s often used in discussions around
vocations and careers.
When I started to meet
writers I was at times surprised and, often intimidated, by the fact that so
many mentioned they were called to write. Because I didn’t and, still don’t,
consider myself called to write. So thoughts of wondering I was less of an
author quickly came to mind.
I’m one of those conservative
types that when people mention their calling I immediately think of Abraham,
Moses, David and the apostles. People who’ve had a very specific instruction
from God to do something that He wants done and that will bring Him glory.
Because if God wants you to specifically do something He’ll sure make sure you
know. Won’t He?
Similarly, I’ve met and read
stories of missionaries and pastors who’ve received a specific confirmation
that the Lord wanted them to serve Him in those vocations.
What an honour and, what a
responsibility, a calling brings with it. Do I want that?
Well, of course I do.
But over the years I’ve come
to realise there are plenty of pastors and missionaries who, in the absence of
the divine interaction, have chosen to serve God using the gifts He has blessed
them with.
And the same applies to
writing. God has blessed us with gifts of storytelling, a passion for sharing
those stories and even the craft of writing. (I think I might have been away
when this one was handed out. Oh, how I love editors!)
Writing in Obedience
I recently read an ebook (it's also in paperback) by
two authors, Terry Burns and Linda Yezak: Writing in Obedience – A Primer for Christian Fiction Writers as in its promotion I saw it made mention of this
topic of calling. I was intrigued to see what they had to say. By the way, it
covers a lot of other ground for new authors, hence its tagline.
Terry is now also an agent
and he was called to write.
In Terry’s view, a calling is
specific and God will confirm it in some way. Sure, you may not have a burning
bush moment or some other miraculous happening but God won’t leave it to
chance. He’ll make sure you know. Terry at times felt intimidated that God has
called Him to write: “He’s asking us to write His book.” (page 5)
Terry presented the
alternative of using our writing as an offering to God. He stressed that God is
no less interested in we “offerers.” “The only difference is that we are
writing our book and offering it to Him rather than writing one He has given
us.”(page 5)
Linda, now also an editor, on
the other hand, experienced similar concerns that I did in not being called to
write. But she came to realise that God blessed her with a gift of storytelling
and for sharing her stories with an audience.
Terry has discovered that
there may be specific projects that God calls us to write; for example, a
specific novel. People are called to do certain things during particular
seasons in life. When I reflect on the various God moments I experienced when
writing Angelguard I can see God’s hand in it. The fact a few readers still
write to me long after they’ve read it making mention of how it continues to help them in
their spiritual walks reinforces that thought.
But what I do know is that we
as believers are all called to love Jesus and others. And by using our gifts
we’ve been given we are serving Him and the body. In continuing to offer our writing to the Lord, who knows we may one day discover that indeed we were … called? Maybe?
Linda sums it up nicely:
“It doesn’t matter whether
God called you to write or you write as an offering to God. Both glorify Him.”(page
17)
I’d love to read what the
rest of you think. Do others grapple with this notion?
Ian Acheson is an author
and strategy consultant based in Northern Sydney. Ian's first novel of
speculative fiction, Angelguard, is now available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. You can
find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter
