Has anybody Seen my Muse?

 

by Anusha Atukorala

The other day I was hunting for my runaway shopping list. I hunted here and I hunted there; I hunted everywhere. But no! Like a magician's rabbit who had performed a vanishing trick, my little notebook had completely disappeared from sight. Until … I opened one of the current books I was reading  … and voila! There it was. Hooray!

 

Have You found anything precious inside a BOOK?  

 

I’ve found plenty of valuable nuggets inside books. Like … joy from stories that crept into my heart, head knowledge that came from books, heart knowledge that also came from books, courage from tales of bravery, smiles from jokes and humour, wisdom from learned authors, relaxation when chuckling through a good yarn, deep sleep through a good book at bedtime, camaraderie through books shared with friends, a thumping heart when glued to a page-turner, hope from inspirational writing. And more. So much more. For like feasting on delicious morsals  at a banquet, in books too I find numerous delectable goodies that fill and satisfy me.

 

Early in 2020, my brain hummed with a plethora of writing ideas. I made some impressive writing plans. I even enjoyed lots of extra time to write, courtesy of Covid-19. But now … as I look back on the year that’s fast waning, I don’t have much to show as a Christian writer.

 

Has anybody seen my muse?

 

I did find something more precious than gold in a BOOK I’ve read every day of 2020. I’ve had more time this year to pursue God. Like a parched traveler finding an oasis in an arid desert, I’ve been drinking from the inexhaustible spring of the Waters of Life. Through the written Word and the Living Word, I’ve found Life. Hope. Sustenance. Blessing.

 

So perhaps 2020 has not been a waste after all?

 

Watching Avatar the movie some years ago, it struck me 

forcibly how we humans borrow God’s ideas. All. The. Time! 

The beings in the planet portrayed in Avatar were so similar to

 humans—with arms, legs, eyes, noses, mouths just like ours

 and tails like those of animals.

The plants in that planet were a whisper of our God’s creation. 

The beauty in that sphere was a reflection of the earth’s loveliness.

The truth is that we can never improve on our Creator's work

when making a movie or in writing a story, for every idea we 

have comes from Him. The exciting reality then is that the 

closer we get to Him the better we can tap into Him and His

creativity. No, I haven’t done much as a writer in 2020. But I

have done one thing well. 

I’ve called it my Year of Jesus, and my Year of Jesus it has been!

So perhaps it was simply a divine pause in my life? 

Perhaps it was a year of being renewed in order to serve Him better in in 2021?

  

Have you, in 2020 …

1.     Read books?

2.     Edited stories?

3.     Written book reviews?

4.     Encouraged other writers?

5.     Walked with the hurting and helped others?

6.     Cared for family and friends who needed you?

7.     Simply obeyed God in all He asked of you each day?

8.     Drew closer to Jesus, the One who holds all things together?

9.     Chalked up life experiences that you can now use in your writing?

10.  Took a break from writing because of other more important callings?

11.  Lived life the best you could each day in spite of tough circumstances?

12.  Battled difficulties and tough times to become a better version of yourself?

 

If you have done any of the above, you can hold your head up high. And even if you simply  kept on living, that is something to be proud of. Sometimes life is so hard that just to keep on going is an achievement in itself. 2020 was a year that challenged me and helped me grow and stretch. And that is what I call a really good year even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

 

As I’ve sought my Muse-giver, in Him I’ve found my muse. 

For in Jesus is life and hope and truth. His light pierces the 

darkness of Covid-19 and the bleakness of our world. 

This Christmas, may you find in Jesus, all that you desire.

And from the the challenging year of 2020 may you birth 

a rich and fulfilling 2021!

Keep writing!

Anusha’s been on many interesting detours in life, as a lab technician, a computer programmer, a full time Mum, a full time volunteer, a charity director, a full time job chaser, until one golden day (or was it a dark moonless night?) God tapped her on her shoulder and called her to write for Him. She has never recovered from the joy it brought her. She loves to see others enjoying life with Jesus and does her mite to hurry the process in her world through her writing and through her life. The goodness of God is her theme song through each season, as she dances in the rain with Jesus.

 

Her first book Enjoying the Journey contains 75 little God stories that will bring you closer to your Creator. Her 2^nd book ‘Dancing in the Rain’ brings you hope and comfort for life’s soggy seasons. Her 3rd book, ‘Sharing the Journey’ is a sequel to 'Enjoying the Journey' and was released in March 2020.

 

Do stop by at her website Dancing in the Rain to say G’day!

Her latest Blogs are found at Light in the Darkness - where she continues her writings on the Truth who lights up this dark world  - JESUS!

Anusha's Books

A collection of 75 little God stories to bring you closer to our Saviour.

Words that will bring comfort and hope during life's tough seasons.

A sequal to Enjoying the Journey. 75 more stories that will bless and inspire.

Anusha's Facebook Author Page

Anusha on Good Reads

Stop it!

by Charis Joy Jackson

I feel like I’ve written about this topic over and over again. Coming at it from different angles, hoping to inspire, hoping to encourage and provoke aspiring authors and professionals alike. But today, I’m going to just come straight out and say it.

Stop it!

I get excited meeting other writers and I’ve been meeting a lot lately. I ask them what they write and they tell me they haven’t really started anything yet, but they want to. I ask them what’s stopping them and while the answers vary with excuses, ultimately it all comes from the same place.

They are afraid and they’ve let that fear stop them.

I’m so done with seeing fear win.

There’s a comedy sketch with Bob Newhart where he plays a therapist, Dr. Switzer, meeting with a client, Catherine Bigman, for the first time. He starts by telling Catherine he charges five dollars for the first five minutes and then after those five minutes doesn’t charge anything else. Sounds like a dream come true for Catherine, but then Dr. Switzer says he guarantee’s the meeting won’t last that long.

Confused, she agrees to the payment and they start the session. She begins to tell him of her fear. She’s afraid of being buried alive in a box.

He sits and listens to her like a good therapist. Nodding his head, making noises and asking pertinent questions all to encourage her to continue. Then once she’s finished describing how far this fear extends he tells her he’s got two words for her. He tells her to listen carefully, to take these words with her and to incorporate them in her life.

Intrigued she pulls out her notepad to write them down and that’s when he says it.

“Stop it!”

What if it’s as simple as that? To stop it.

Fear paralyses us, but think about it. We’re the ones feeding it. It’s our own creativity and imagination working against us. What if I don’t succeed? What if I can’t write? What if I’m not good enough? And the “What if’s” continue pilling up like an excellent tragedy.

But, what if we tried?

Even if we don’t succeed we tried.  Even if we find that writing is a lot tougher than we expected, at least we stepped out of our comfort zone. Even if we really aren’t good enough, at least we know where our weaknesses are and we can grow from them.

The truth is, none of us start out as super human wordsmiths knowing exactly what to write. The good news though is we can grow to become great novelists, but it takes time and practice. If we let fear win, we never give ourselves the chance to practice and if we don’t practice then we’ll never learn.

So if you’re feeling particularly stuck at the moment with your writing, or if you haven’t yet put pen to paper, please watch Bob Newhart’s hilarious sketch Stop It and let the simple truth wash over you.

And if you still struggle with fear, then listen carefully to these ten words. Write them out and take them with you. “Stop it or I’ll bury you alive in a box.”

Write! You’re actually more creative than you give yourself credit. Remember all those “What if’s” that pile up in your mind and paralyze you? That’s creative thinking too! Yes, it’s negative, but it still takes energy to come up with all those fears. How about doing something more productive with your mind. Start creating those epic adventures trapped behind the walls of fear. Break the walls down and like Nike says, “Just do it.”

Stop letting excuses take over.

Stop letting fear get in the way.

Stop giving in to self doubt.

Stop it and try believing in yourself for once. Try believing in a creative God who created you to create and go and write.

I dare you.

 

 Charis Joy Jackson is working as a missionary with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) a non-profit organization & is part of The Initiative Production Company, an independent film company. Where she gets to make movies for a living. 

She loves creating stories & is currently writing a novel in her spare time, which she hopes to publish in the next year.

Here's to a life lived in awe & wonder.  Welcome to the adventure.

www.charisjoyjackson.com