An Audience of One

Some writing is never meant to be published.

Last weekend, our writers' group, Sheffield Scribblers, met at a café in the city to share our writing aloud. One member said that for her, the joy of writing was enough and she wasn’t intending to publish. I hope that being a part of a group and reading her work aloud also gave her joy but even if she didn’t get that chance, she would still continue to write.

This struck me as every single thing I write is followed by the thought, ‘Which medium is the best one for this to be shown to the world? A blog? A Facebook post? A book? An animation? A lesson in my app? Etc. etc. etc.’

By now, I have a bank of short stories and devotions that have not yet found a public audience and sometimes I fret and wonder if they will ever find an audience, other than myself and Father God.

And then I remember the story in 2 Samuel 23:13-17, when David and his army of loyal supporters were in hiding and David said he was thirsty for the water of Bethlehem. Three of his mighty men risked their lives to fetch David a cup of water from that well and David considered the price of the water to be so high, that only God Almighty was worthy of such a precious gift.

This upside down thinking is so typical of the Kingdom of God. Perhaps the writing that never sees an audience might be the most precious of all? Writing for the joy of it, when the only person who will read it might be yourself and Father God, could it be even more precious than the writing that reaches the world?

If you’re not convinced, think about the pleasure that fans of deceased writers find, when they come across an unpublished work – a scribbled footnote of a favourite preacher, or incomplete stories filed in J.R.R Tolkien’s slush pile. These ‘unworthy’ writings bring so much joy and pleasure to those who are fans of the published work. Is it totally inconceivable to think that your heavenly Father finds the same joy in your unfinished, incomplete offering, that only He gets to see?

So take heart, dear unpublished writer, that the Lord takes pleasure in your writing and the Lord takes pleasure in you.

 

 

Joanne Gilchrist is mother of 3 and runs the charity, Ruach Resources, which is the home of God for Kids app and the Animals of Eden Valley children's books. She also wrote the autobiographical "Looking for Love", "Next Steps to Following Jesus" for children and freelances for the SunScool app.