Words in the World

Recently I had the honour of being published in an anthology along with several other Canadian Christian authors. A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider is, as the name suggests, the second collection published by That's Life Communications. The first book, Hot Apple Cider, has done well and all of the contributing writers have received royalty cheques. We're all expecting great things from this second edition and it's already looking like this book is going to travel. One writer mentioned it was going to Japan with a missionary family. Another said he was taking it to Rwanda to give to national pastors he would meet. Another is taking a few copies to the southern states and another had just sent a copy to the Philippines. We also just heard it is already being distributed in Australia.

Words have wings. They go where we cannot, reach into the hearts and homes of people we will never meet, all over the world. The words go beyond us, beyond what we can do or even imagine, because they are words breathed into the world by the Holy Spirit and sent on their way to do His work.

I love this quote from one of my favourite YA novels, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – “Trust me though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Leisel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out like the rain.”

I love that quote because I love the image of a young girl holding a book in her hands with awe, as something precious and ethereal and wringing out of it nourishment and sustenance - the very necessities of life. Think what our world would be like without books. Not a pleasant picture. Knowledge would be stymied. Faith would be stunted. Hope would be a faint unrecognizable glimmer. And love? Would any of us believe in it?

And herein lies our responsibility as writers of faith, to put down words worthy of being wrung out - words that come from the true Source of all knowledge, faith, hope and love - then send them out into the world where they will do His work.

Most writers of faith have stories about readers who have contacted them to tell them how their books met a need in their lives. Most writers wring those words out like rain from a cloud as well. They are the words that keep many of us writing as the wheel of encouragement cycles from one to another. And that's really what this writing business is all about - it's about building one another up, tearing through the fog of this world and revealing what is true, honest and good. It's about revealing human nature and then pointing to the redemption that can cure it. It's all about God's design, His plan, His mercy and grace.

Let us therefore, "not become weary in doing good" (Galatians 6:9) but write on. "For it is God's will that by doing good (and writing well) you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men" (1Peter 2:15).
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Marcia Lee Laycock writes from central Alberta Canada where she is a pastor's wife and mother of three adult daughters. She was the winner of The Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone and also has four devotional books in print. Her work has been endorsed by Sigmund Brouwer, Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and Mark Buchanan. The sequel to One Smooth Stone will be released in 2011. Abundant Rain, an ebook of devotionals for writers has just been released here. Visit Marcia's website