JESUS LOVES THE WRITER

I am fortunate to be associated with some talented writers in my SCBWI critique group. One of these scribes is a minister. We love his latest book about a young girl from Peru. Every now and again he will bring in something he discovered in his travels through the bible. Yesterday he brought in the following:

                                                      How Important is our Work?
                                                          by: Rich Doerbaum

Jesus had been telling parables to the crowds. When he had finished, he explain to his disciples the meaning of the parables. He said, "Therefore, every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." (Matthew 13:52)

These words are tremendously encouraging to us who are writers. Here is my interpretation:

"Therefore" -- Telling stories has important consequences.

"every scribe" -- Everyone of us who writes down his or her words, who is an author, who tells stories to children is a scribe. We are the center of attention in these words of Jesus.

"who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven" -- We are in training as we practice our art of writing. Our tales have a far-reaching impact on children, perhaps even an eternal significance. If the kingdom of heaven is the reign of God, then maybe what we share with children will in some small way help to establish whatever is true and good, loving and kind in their hearts and minds.

"is like the master of a household" -- We are in control of our vocabulary, our household of thoughts, our castle of ideas. As the CEO of our corporation of communication we are free to take our readers in any direction we desire. We alone are responsible for what we write. It feels good to be in charge, but it is an awesome responsibility. To whom are we accountable -- to our publisher, to our constituents, to ...?

"who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old" -- Each of us has an overflowing treasure of memories, life experiences, learnings, travels, gleanings from books, reflections, academic teachings, philosophies, dreams and visions, personal and physical feelings, and so on ad infinitum. There is never a lack of material, from which storehouse we can draw. Most of our treasures are old; but maybe we can look at them in new ways. And to create something that is entirely new? Ah, that perhaps is to participate in our limited human manner in the Creation ex nihilo; that would be divine!

So take courage, dear writer-friends. Even the scriptures bless you in your endeavors.

How cool is that!