The Adventurous Life of Writing

 

By Maureen Miller

 

God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.

I Corinthians 1:9 MSG

 

I haven’t always considered myself adventurous. In fact, I’ve been fearful. Cautious. A play-it-safe kind of gal. But being married to Bill, I’ve changed. Perhaps his audacious personality has rubbed off on me, helping me try new things. Take greater risks.

 

Like snow skiing—something I attempted as a child, when the possibility of brittle bones was less. I was never great at the sport, but I could descend an Ohio mountain with the best of ’em. After all, I’m from the Midwest, so you get my drift.

 

As a new mom, I didn’t ski much but later was invited to try again. Heading to Colorado, I’d have the opportunity to enjoy some real powder, not to mention real mountains. Brave husband offered to teach me because, let’s be honest, I’d never really learned.

 

That was more than twenty years ago. And while I haven’t broken a bone or careened down a cliff, I’ve learned some good lessons, several which apply to writing.

 

Follow a Guide

I rarely ski alone. I’m most comfortable, in fact, following someone better than myself. Whether Bill or another skilled teacher, I’ve grown over the years through the guidance of those who know more.

 

As a writer, this also is true. While much of my work is done in solitude, I’m in daily contact with writers who share my love for words, most days with those much more knowledgeable than myself.

 

Following the advice of mentors and teachers grows us, guiding us on the path toward our desired end—publication.

When You Fall, Get Back Up!

Honestly, I’ve experienced many spills while skiing, and though I’ve never been seriously injured, it doesn’t feel good, nor is getting back up easy. In fact, sometimes it’s downright difficult, making me wonder if I’m too old for the sport.

 

What to do?

• Rest a moment.
• Rise with help from your poles.
• Move ahead.

Such is the case with writing. We’ve all suffered setbacks. Failures. It hurts, and we want to give up. Who am I? we wonder. Maybe we feel too old. We’re not, and there are others willing to remind us.

 

So, what to do?

• Rest.
• Rise with help from your people.
• Move ahead.

And remember—we won’t accomplish the mountain if we stop.

Enjoy the Adventure!

These days, the fun usually outweighs fear, in both skiing and writing. Still, do I ever question myself, tempted to play it safe, avoid the possibility of pain? Yes, but I’m reminded that Our most faithful Guide, the One who’s always there to pick us up when we fall or fail, has called us out of our comfort zones to live with freedom and enjoy the journey.

Oh, and don’t forget—Jesus, our dearest Friend, will never give up on us.

So … onward!

Photo by Eirik Uhlen on Unsplash

Maureen Miller—wife, mother of three, and Mosie to two—lives on Selah Farm, a hobby homestead nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. With a passion for God’s Word, Maureen is an award-winning author and photographer, contributing as a guest blogger and to several online devotion sites, as well as to a variety of collaboratives. She prays to have eyes and ears open that she might experience God in the miracles of His created world and blogs weekly about what He has to say at www.penningpansies.com. Her debut novel is under contract with Redemption Press.