A few months ago I hired someone to do a line-edit on my work-in-progress, The Thornbearer.It’s always a bit unnerving to become vulnerable to someone else’s critique, offering my infant-manuscript to be sliced, diced, and redressed (just kidding, actually she was very kind).
But the truth still remains. I paid her to edit my work. I paid her to provide constructive criticism. I paid her to point out myweaknesses. (I can think of a few people who do all those things on a regular basis and dont’ get paid one cent
Did it sting?
Sure, especially since I thought my writing was pretty near perfection.
Did I want to throw my work in the trashcan?
Momentarily, because of the overwhelming task of fixing it and feeling like I’d NEVER get things right – but then I swallowed down my orange-sized pride and dug the manuscript out of the rubbish pile.
Did I want to ignore it?
Yes, and actually I did for a little while, but chocolate made everything better
Did I mention I paid for this?
But she was encouraging too. Shared my strengths as well as my weaknesses. Told me that it’s a good story with great potential.
She’s a good editor – to the point, but in a kind way. I appreciate that. She didn’t cut any corners, sugar-coat my weaknesses, or try and smooth over the rough edges. How would I improve as a writer if she did that? She was only doing her job, and the things she suggested – I NEEDED to hear.
If I choose not to listen to valuable instruction, I’ll refuse to grow as a writer….
and as a person.
It’s a lot like the Holy Spirit.
Until Christ comes to live in our hearts, there is no editor of our soul. We choose what’s right in our own eyes. We write our own life-scenes and hope for the best.
But then the Holy Spirit shows up. The soul’s internal editor. He’s consistent, faithful, honest, and waiting with his metaphorical pen to right the wrong sof our heart’s story.
The warmth of his comfort wraps around us in our trials, the strength of his assurance spurns us forward into the next day, the faithfulness of his love encourages us to be honest and to run to the Father with our soiled pages of life.
Does His correction sting?
Sometimes it does, especially when we dont’ want to change our ways or we are particularly guilty. After all, we do think we’re pretty perfect
Do we ever want to throw in the towel and say, “I can’t do this?”
Yep, but it’s all about His faithfulness – not ours. He holds us, He helps us, and he’s the one who provides the pen for us to rewrite the attitudes of our hearts. We WILL fail, but we never fall so far he cannot pull us out of the rubbish bin and into his embrace.
Do we ever want to ignore him?
Um…duh! Who wants to hear criticism? But He’s persistent and keeps reminding us of the stories He wants to write with our lives.
In fact, our stories have already been edited in full. And the cost?
paid for by Jesus.
He took our mutilated, ripped, and filthy rough draft and gave us His copy instead. He put OUR names in His book. As the Holy Spirit continues to edit our lives, the pages of our story have already been cleaned up and placed within the Book of Life.
It is finished.
And it’s a BEST SELLER ,all because of Jesus.
Pepper, that was precious! Thanks for sharing your heart and reminding us that God finished it for us!
I love this! Great insight! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and feelings.