Being my Ideal Reader by Jane Clamp

Tuck in, it's all for you! (photo courtesy of Trip Advisor)

There have been times I’ve believed I could change the world through my writing. A glance through my social media feed shows I’m not alone in my hopes. Not just big-time, hot-shot celebrities (although there are many of them promoting their latest title), but fellow ACW members and others we may never hear about. All of us with one ear on heaven’s newsfeed  and both hands at the keys, bashing away and praying we may have an impact on one soul, somewhere.

Worthy, all of it.

And I’m not de-crying it in the slightest.

But I’m not in that place at the moment. After three months of exhaustion, my health is picking up (hurrah!) but medical intervention isn’t over. Life has thrown a curve-ball from another direction, too – and is demanding much attention, as these things invariably do. So, approaching the privilege of writing this monthly blog, I faced something of a dilemma. Do I ignore what’s going on around me and trot out something safe and banal (and, dare I say it, acceptable) or do I stick to time-honoured and God-loved honesty? I’ve gone for the latter.

I am still writing in this different season.

I long ago reached the stage where I couldn’t not write.

But my target audience has changed.

The book I’m writing is one that I’ve wanted to start for some time. It’s all about how to draw closer to God when life is horrible. And it turns out that I’m writing it for me.

Isn’t that so gracious of God? The One who said, “Don’t muzzle the ox when it’s treading out the grain,” knows that we who give out need feeding, too. I can’t wait to find out what I come up with next. It could prove really helpful…

 
Jane Clamp is the author of Too Soon, a mother's journey through miscarriage (SPCK). She has written the daily content for this year's 40 Acts Lent initiative (stewardship.org) and continues to write for Premier Radio and UCB.