About a decade ago, the first Wipeout game show aired in the USA. Contestants threw and bounced
themselves into, around, across, over and through an absurd array of obstacles,
mud, more obstacles, mud, creative obstacles, water, (washing off the mud), challenging
obstacles, watery downpours … anyway, you get the picture. Total Wipeout, the British (BBC) version, followed hot on its heels,
eventually airing in Australia (and currently repeating on ABC ME). If you’ve no idea what I’m referring to, you
can watch Total Wipeout’s first Episode
here (after you’ve
read this blog, of course).
The ‘killer surf’ giant water slide introduces the
show’s final challenge (See it here at about the 48:20
minute mark). By this stage, the field of twenty-four starters has narrowed to
three finalists who compete for the cash prize. It’s not hard to draw an
analogy between those Total Wipeout contestants
and writers, (aspiring and successful). With varying degrees of enthusiasm and
expertise, we might
- · bellow a shout of impending triumph at our brilliant intention;
- · leap into the process with a whoosh and a splash;
- · swim through the deep waters of structural sinkholes;
- · tackle the long haul of obstacles (dealing with time restraints);
- · jump barrels, balance disappointments;
- climb (or cling perilously to) the walls while a waterfall of negativity assails us;
- · leap onto the dizzying merry-go-round of writing conferences and events;
- · bounce up and down, back and forth, over (and often out of) the submissions' trampoline.
It’s easy to extend the analogy. Both contestants
and writers might
- · see it as a challenge, but also as fun;
- · fall and fail, but try again;
- · persevere, even when the mud sticks;
- · step up to the next level after each success.
May I also draw your attention to the response of
the game show’s audience because, frankly, they are amazing in their efforts to
cheer on the players. They laugh with good humour at competitors’ pedantic
pre-action antics, commiserate when they slip and fall, and cheer wildly when
they pick themselves up and try again. Sure, every episode has one overall
winner who receives a prize, but the audience applauds the efforts of all the
players who try, whether they win or lose. In the presence of that faithful,
enthusiastic cheer squad, naysayers face, um, total wipeout.
Over the last twelve months, I’ve been whacked and
dumped and drowned by a plethora of challenges and disappointments that have
seriously undermined my writing progress. I’m sure I’m not the only one. But a
couple of weeks ago, the Holy Spirit challenged me with this thought:
The
only power/authority/naysayer who
wants you to fail as a Christian writer
is
the devil.
In
stark contrast, a huge cheer squad,
led by Almighty God,
wants you to succeed.
My first thought was, ‘Wow!’
My second thought was, ‘I have a choice to make.’
- · I can reject this thought, thereby siding with the devil and … treat God as a liar;
- · I can condescend to it outwardly while letting doubt undermine my trust in God till I flounder in the mud of despondency and unbelief; or
- · I can accept it, embrace it, and run with it, letting God’s truth strengthen and empower me to keep going.
I'm going with number 3.
Having meditated on this for a couple of weeks, I’ve concluded the Bible
provides ample evidence that God is cheering us on as Christian writers, e.g. Isaiah
52:7, 50:4, Psalm 68:11 and more than 64 other verses that mention the word ‘write’.
It’s also supported by visible actions and evidence,
vis-à-vis the encouragement readily
given by family, friends, fellow Christians, writers, readers and editors.
Honestly, although there are many articles across the web that reflect the
struggles and challenges faced by writers, the overwhelming sense from both
Christian and secular sources is one of encouragement to all authors, (aspiring
and published) to go for it, keep writing, get better, never, ever, give up. In
this industry, the players are generally much more inclined to critique with a
view to improvement than be critical. Even the dreaded rejection letter is
seen as a step or side-step in the journey, not a prescription for failure.
So, next time the devil
starts throwing the mud of failure in my face, or yours, let's remember that, unless we choose to agree with him, he’s a minority of one, even if he appropriates a few
human mouthpieces from time to time. Meanwhile, the great majority, in heaven
and on earth, is cheering us on, big time.
Have you got a favourite line you’ve heard from that
cheer squad? I'd love you to share it with the rest of us. Spur us all on to greater
effort and action.
(Note: Images used above are Creative Commons sourced from Pixabay)
Mazzy Adams is a published author of poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. She has a passion for words, pictures and the positive potential in people.
Website: www.mazzyadams.com
Email: maz@mazzyadams.com
