On Pens and Procrastination - Helen Hewitt

 

Photo by Taylor Heery on Unsplash

I took delivery of a very exciting parcel the other day. My favourite online stationery shop was offering Black Friday ‘mystery boxes,’ containing a range of surprise items, from art materials to pens. I do love a fountain pen, and the box contained not one, but two. I also got a beautiful bottle of blue ink, with a slight golden shimmer, which will join the little collection on my desk. I even got a pair of socks with a fountain pen pattern!

I suspect I’m not alone amongst ACW members and writers in general, having a quiet love for stationery. I’m pretty sure it’s also a genetic trait. My 8-year-old can spot a shop selling her beloved Legami pens a mile off and, if we are in a hurry, I have to make sure we avoid passing WHSmith. 

Writing with lovely tools can be a joy, elevating even mundane tasks. When I was a junior doctor, back in the days when patient notes were paper-based, I always carried a couple of ink pens with me. It was my job to record the decisions made on daily ward rounds and doing so with decent ink made the task that bit lighter. 

However, if I’m honest, my stationery can sometimes take me away from the very thing God is calling me to do. I pick up the pen to begin, but end up adjusting, refilling, or simply admiring it. Rearranging my desk suddenly becomes vitally important and far more appealing than facing a blank page. Because starting can feel risky. Putting those initial words down on paper asks something of us, so it’s not surprising that distractions are often very welcome.

But, when God calls us to creativity, he doesn’t require perfect conditions before we start. Much as my choice of pen matters greatly to me, I doubt he cares much about the tools I use. The Holy Spirit meets us not in flawless preparation, but in the scribbles, the crossings-out, and the imperfect sentences. The messy first draft and the untidy desk.

Part of our calling is to simply show up. Not with the right pen or a beautiful notebook, but with a willing heart and an ear receptive to his prompting. Our tools can support this, but they cannot replace it. 

God works with imperfection. We see throughout the bible that he often begins there. At the end of the day, the greatest writing tool we have is obedience – getting the words down and trusting that he will make something beautiful out of them. 

May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17)

Helen Hewitt is a baker, gardener, writer and maker. She lives in southwest London with  her husband and two young daughters. Formerly a doctor and clinical academic, she now runs a social enterprise, which combines a microbakery and community gardening project (@nourishandgrow_food). Helen is a member of the Community of Hopeweavers. 

You can find more of Helen's writing on her blog, Warp & Weft.