Never Did I Ever by Emily Owen

Never did I ever think I’d write a blog about Formula 1.

But here we are*.

"Hello?!" The blank page on my computer screen called to me.

I frowned at it.

"You’re supposed to be writing a MTW blog."

I frowned again.

"I need some words," the blank screen continued.

I frowned at it some more.

"Um, that was a hint…"

I frowned even more.

It sighed. "I’d spell it out, but I can’t."

I raised my eyebrows. Not funny. Well, maybe a bit funny.

"Please? Type something? Anything?"

So I did what anyone would do, and typed the name of a website to order my nephew a model Formula 1 car for his birthday.

I’d already done my research. I’d dutifully looked at cars, trying to pick one that my nephew would like. I’d asked my dad, and my brother-in-law, whether a Lando Norris was a good make of car to get?

Photo credit: unsplash.com

ALT: A yellow racing car

When they stopped laughing, they told me that Lando Norris is not a make of car. Lando Norris is a driver (who knew….).

Lando Norris is not a make, but a person.

A person who drives a car that is individual to him. All the drivers don’t drive the same car, though there are similarities – all the cars are made for racing, after all.

Perhaps a bit like all writers don’t pen the same book, though we all use words.

F1 teams support individuals within their team, helping them to flourish; perhaps a bit like ACW.

Lando Norris is not a make, but a person.

A person who wears a special protective suit when he’s driving.

What about us, as Christian writers?

‘Thank you for helping me don my armour.'

This is a message I sent Ruth back in June.

I’d asked her for some writerly advice, which she’d kindly given.

And consequently, I felt more confident.

An example of supporting an individual (me) within the ACW team.

Thank you, Ruth.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power…..

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6

My nephew-led brief excursion into the world of Formula 1 showed me that the primary reason for the special suits drivers wear seems to be to protect them from fire.

In other words, to protect them when something goes wrong. Which it doesn’t always. But it might. So they keep their suits on.

Apparently they keep them on even after the race, when they are on the podium, and conducting interviews.

May we, whether whizzing round a proverbial writing-track, signing contracts and publishing books, or struggling when writing seems stilted, remember to don our spiritual armour.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

(*With huge apologies to anyone who has a clue about F1…..)