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| Dennis Ricci |
We call
ourselves “writers.” But today, author Dennis
Ricci challenges us to dig deep and change our perspectives. By the way, how
do you view your identity? ~ Dawn
What
We Do
is Not Who We Are
You are not a writer. Nor am I.
Oh, we write. A lot. We craft stories that show a dying world
who God is and how He works through people. We want our stories to bend the
cultural narrative toward seeing the Father and his unconditional love through
Jesus.
But “writer” is not who
we are.
I’ve recently led our men’s group through a discovery tool
called The Purpose Train, developed
by Stephen K. De Silva. It helps
people discover their purpose, vision, strategy and daily choices and actions
(“tactics”) so they can streamline the life decisions they make. It’s helping
me make big changes, and I believe you’ll find it helpful too. Here’s a graphic
representation:
Identity: Who we
believe we are in Christ, and who we believe God uniquely made us to be, is the
“track” on which our lives will
travel. Proverbs 4:23 teaches us, “Guard your heart above all else, for it
determines the course of your life.” We share a common family identity—sons and daughters. But we each have a personal identity as unique as our
physical appearance. Some stop at “child of God”—a sure foundation, but there
is more.
Purpose: Our
understanding of our purpose is the “engine”
that pulls us through life. We have a collective purpose—love God, love people,
make disciples—and a specific purpose He prepared for us long ago. If our
beliefs about identity and purpose align with God’s intentions, our “engine”
will pull us down the right track. The way to be sure is to continually seek
Him and listen.
Vision: God
created each of us to bear unique fruit. Ideally, our vision aligns with God’s
designed output of our life—what we produce and who we become in the process.
We have the joy of discovering vision as we walk with Him.
Strategy: The
things we will do and won’t do to manifest our vision. We can
make our own decisions and plans about strategy, but we know the Lord gives the
right answer if we seek Him for it (Proverbs 16:1).
Writer, then,
is not who we are but the strategic
choice we make to use our gifts and talents. We may be called to write—a specific project or type of stories—or we may
write because it makes us come alive,
and we do it as an offering to Him. Writing proceeds
from our identity.
Tactics: Our
“action plan”—our daily choices and actions to execute our strategies. I’m best
equipped to stay faithful to strategies if I pursue daily, intimate communion
with the Lord. My biggest challenges are allowing the “urgency of the moment”
or “how I’m feeling today” to push my life train forward.
By the way…I’ve discovered a secondary benefit of using this
model—as a character development tool.
True character is revealed when people are forced to choose between irreconcilable
goods or the lesser of two evils. Try using the Purpose Train to imagine your
characters’ understanding of their identity and purpose and vision for their
lives, which become the centers of conflicts they are thrust into and engage.
PS: I’d be happy to share the tools I developed for helping
our men’s group apply the Purpose Train to their lives and my own personal
example. Click
here to email me.
Federal
judge Edward Lamport is no stranger to controversy and danger. Nine months into
his tenure, he’s received two death threats and is under the protection of US
Marshals. But when he receives a plea for help from a woman with whom he had a
brief romance twenty-five years earlier, he must face a peril of a different
sort, one that involves his long-lost son, Carlos.
While
working for a bank in his native Mexico, Carlos discovers an international
money-laundering scheme. Now he’s on the run from those who want him dead. To
get the young man asylum in the United States, Lamport appeals to his highest
connections in Washington, only to find puzzling dead ends at every turn.
Caught between law and love, he’s forced to take the matter into his own hands.
With only his faith in God to guide him, how far is he willing to venture into
the dark recesses of political corruption to save his son?
Before penning fiction, Dennis
Ricci worked as a freelance marketing strategist, copywriter, and
instructional designer. He also mentors aspiring writers, conducts writing
workshops, and advises marketing professionals on strategy and content. Ricci
lives in Thousand Oaks, California, with his wife, Jill, where they serve their
community through a Healing Rooms ministry dedicated to praying for the sick.
He has three grown children with whom he loves spending time at Los Angeles
Kings hockey games, especially when they play his hometown Detroit Red Wings.
To connect and learn more, please visit:
Website: www.dennisricci.com
Facebook: facebook.com/dennis.ricci.author
Twitter: @DRicciAuthor
