Career or Ministry? by Hope Toler Dougherty

I recently reconnected with a college friend decades after we lost touch. We had such a sweet time of remembering and catching up, and then she said, “Now tell me about your writing career.”

That word career grabbed my attention.

When I think of career, I think of my twenty-something self poised with a Master’s degree in one hand and lots of enthusiasm for teaching college students in the other. Since then, I’ve celebrated several milestone birthdays. You know the ones I mean, right? They end in five or zero. I’m closer to retirement now than I am to that earlier version of myself.

I suppose I do have a career in writing, though. I have business cards and ink pens with my name on them. I have a website, a Facebook author’s page, and a Twitter account, which I’m still trying to figure out.

But, honestly, my writing seems more like a ministry to me. I began seriously pursuing my writing journey as my children began graduating from high school. Teaching no longer appealed to me, so I looked to writing to keep busy and sane while my day job as a mother-of-children-at-home diminished.

This journey has kept my mind on interesting characters, has introduced me to new language—platform, tweets, one sheets, pitching—has taught me about myself and about God, and has kept me from wallowing in my tomb-like empty nest.

The ministry isn’t only for me, however. The main character in Irish Encounter is a widow who learns to embrace the second part of her life after her husband dies. I’ve heard from several readers who either because of divorce or the death of a spouse have faced a life different from the one they’d planned. The story speaks to them about hope and anticipation and new ideas. They’ve talked to me about considering new plans because of Ellen’s journey in Irish Encounter.

Fiction is pretty cool if it helps people see that God always has possibilities for us. Jeremiah 29:11 promises that He has plans for us, plans to prosper not to harm us.

Possibilities.

What about you? Is God offering you possibilities you didn’t see coming? Is He preparing you for a second, or third, or fourth act? Are you willing to take a step out onto a new path?

I’m so glad I took His hand when He invited me on my writing path. On what new journey is He inviting you?

~~~~~~

Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Her publications include three novels, Rescued Hearts, Irish Encounter, and Mars…With Venus Rising, as well as nonfiction articles. A member of ACFW, RWA, and SinC, she writes for SeriousWriter.com. She and her husband live in North Carolina and enjoy visits with their two daughters and twin sons. Visit her at hopetolerdougherty.com.

The Good and the Bad ~by Susan Tuttle

koratmember on freedigitalphotos.net

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 

~2 Corinthians 4:1

I read this verse recently, and it brought home two points as I approach this writing ministry. I thought this might be a good place to share. :)

First off, if you’ve been in writing long, you know it’s full of rejection. No two ways around it, closed doors and “no’s” are all part of the game. We talk about growing thick skin and learning to love “constructive criticism”…all of which is true. Yet it can start to seep into our bones. Is this all worth it? Will I ever be published? Am I even good at this whole writing thing?

Fact is, if God has given you this ministry of writing, then yes, you are good at it. Yes, he’s going to use your work in some capacity. And yes, it is more than worth it. Do you still need to grow and polish your talent—of course! Does that mean you’re going to sell a million books? Nope. You might have written that one book just for the editor who rejected it but found healing in its pages nonetheless. And that is what makes it worth it. If you only change one person with your writing—and never even see it, just have to believe it—then it is still worth it. Because God’s seeing it, and he’s got the instant replay waiting for you to watch some day. Amen? Yes. Amen!

So don’t lose heart. This ministry that you have is all through God’s mercy. The rejection doesn’t lessen what he’s doing through you. Keep pushing forward, believing in the talent he’s given and that he’s using it, even when you don’t see it! Someday—either here or in heaven—you will see it.

Which brings me to the second part. While we cannot take on the rejection of this ministry, we also cannot take on the glory. He’s rather specific about this, in fact, one of my favorite reminder verses says: I am the Lord, that is my name! I will not give my glory to another! Isaiah 42:8 He doesn’t beat around the bush. Look. He’s even got exclamation points, and as a writer we know not to just throw those around. Touching his glory is like trying to take his place, and that never ends well. We don’t shine for people to see us, we shine for people to see him—it’s the reason he lights us up with his fire. Don’t redirect it.

I guess bottom line is this…your writing ministry is God’s. The good and the bad of it. Don’t touch either. Don’t lose heart in the “no” and don’t take the glory of your “yes”. Just let him use you however he sees fit. It’s a wonderful ride :)  

Susan Tuttle
Steps

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.