Musings from My Journal
Writing Stories with Thought to Their Impact
As mentioned in my previous post, I am sharing musings from my journal.
I wrote the following while reflecting on the nature of pastoral ministry. However, upon reading it again, it strikes me that it also applies to Christian writers. It seems to me that as a Christian, when writing stories I have a responsibility to shepherd, to give thought to the impact of my story on the reader for good or for ill.
THE TASK (a musing)
People are so impatient in your work, Lord. It is as if they are trying to run ahead of you to prove how much they can accomplish by their own prowess. They tread on your little lambs. They push the weak aside. The slow learner they annihilate. They raise the rich and strong up high.
Is not each sheep important, Lord? Is not each one our charge? Should we not love the weak, Lord, without failing to love the strong? Without lessening our love for the healthy should we not help the sick along?
Wait!
I hear a voice ringing down the short corridor of time, “Shepherd my sheep; take care! Remember when you were lost on the mountain so weak and sick with despair, I left a throne of glory to traverse the wild and bare. Thou worm, thou worm, shepherd my sheep; take care.”
“Come, little sheep, gather into the fold and let me dress your wounds. You have been left out with the wolves too long and the master is coming soon. There is so much to do. Yet to hurry would mean ineffective care. So although the master is coming I’ll patiently dress your sores; and with tender love I will shepherd you till we see him face to face. Then the words, Thou worm will be altered, and he will say, “Thou good and faithful servant, well done. You have been a shepherd to all my sheep, you have not neglected one.”