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Sarah G. Young's avatar

I love this, Christine! You have a knack for putting my exact thoughts into words. I could say the exact same things, but about writing fiction. Writing novels is definitely my special interest, and brings me so much joy that's probably hard for the outside observer to understand. But I've decided to fully, unashamedly embrace the joy it gives me, and the way storytelling lights me up. When I was a teen it was the same, but evangelicalism taught me to be ashamed of having such a strong passion for anything other than for Jesus. They called it idolatry. So I "sacrificed" writing to pursue ministry/missions... until ten years later when I burned out and my bottled-up writer's soul erupted with a vengeance. Part of me wishes I'd never given it up, and had studied Creative Writing and all, because then I would have ten more years of writing experience and maybe have something published by now. But then, the other part of me realizes that if I hadn't had the experience of *missing* writing, and of the difference between ministry/missions burning me out and writing making me come alive, then I wouldn't be able to say now with confidence that writing fiction is what I do, what I want to do, and what I choose to focus on growing and improving in, for the long haul.

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Lindsey Melden's avatar

Cheers to non-resolutions! And cheers to putting yourself first. And your kids will see their mom taking care of herself and finding her own joy and they’ll know how to do it for themselves one day! 🩷 And even though you couldn’t pay me to run a marathon - I’m so happy for you! Watching my husband run one a few years ago was one of the most magical days.

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