Tuesday 21 February 2012

Update

Hi all, more of an update than a post! Six weeks I've now been in Redcliffe. As I wrote previously, the move has pushed and pulled me all out of routine, such that writing has been something hard to squeeze in! My head has not been in the right space for things to flow. Just finding the space when there are boxes to unpack, rooms to organise, kids to help in their transitioning - not to mention 150 new people in my new church to get to know [and praise the Lord, more coming all the time].

This week I made some writing contacts in my new town, through the Redcliffe library - and they are very supportive down to buying my books for the library. The whole move process is a hard one, but one that is I know already, expanding my tent - stretching me. It's actually been a theme in my preaching [don't mean to preach at you] - for God to help you grow sometimes he's got to break you, so he can reassemble you. How are you allowing God to stretch you - break you - take you into deeper water. It's scary and hard - but part of growing. What bad writing habits do you have to unlearn, to reach your potential.

God bless.

8 comments:

  1. Is this an omen? My wife and I were just talking about moving. I'm loathe to do so (again). Perhaps I need to grow more.

    And to answer the question, 'show, don't tell'. I think I've learnt this so well that I now show more than I should (so to speak). Some things don't justify showing, and a bit of telling can result in better pacing. I find it so hard to drop out of dialogue-and-action mode and into narration.

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  2. Hi Paul. Great to hear you are settling in. I'm sure the writing will there when everyone is settled. Blessings in your new church. Jo

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  3. Thanks for that Paul! God has indeed been doing exactly that with me the past year or so... stretching me and taking me apart! Lots of pruning. Painful but needed and I am so glad looking back because I have grown. And perhaps my authenticity and integrity as a writer too has grown through it.

    All the best to you as you settle into your new church. May the unsettling period give birth to many new and wonderful beginnings.
    Blessings,
    Anusha

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    1. Hi Paul,
      Settling down somewhere new and trying to get some serious writing done at the same time does sound like a recipe for overload. Thanks for your update :)

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    2. Hi Paul, I'm in the same place as you, meeting new people, being stretched spiritually, physically and emotionally as I settle into a new environment. Exciting times. Hang it there, we have God on our side. He will get us through. Blessings, Laura

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  4. I had been wondering how you were going, Paul. Thank you for the update. It is good to hear things are going well.

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  5. Moving is usually quite stressful and I wish you every blessing as you settle not only into your new home but new church too.
    At least you will be closer to the venue for our next writer's get to gether at Mooloolaba next October so hope to see you there.

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  6. Thanks everyone! A great service this morning.

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