Taking Correction

by Marcia Lee Laycock

Correction. It's never easy, especially when we think we've got it all right. Those words we have slaved over; those characters we built from scratch; those brilliant plot twists we implanted at just the right place. How could they need correction? In our eyes, they’re perfect. But then fresh eyes find the typos. A keen sense of rhythm finds the awkward sentence structure. And even those brilliant plot twists are found wanting.

That's when we must take a deep breath, read our work again and acknowledge that the one with the blue pencil in her hand is experienced and astute. Another deep breath and we make the changes. Then a smile. The work is more precise, cleaner and does express more effectively what we intended it to express. The correction was needed.

This doesn't only happen in our writing life. Our spiritual life needs the same attention. Oh yes, we sometimes think we’ve got it all right. But then something happens and we discover there are things lurking that ought not be there. We find ourselves thinking thoughts that ought not have come to mind. We act in a manner not becoming and realize there might be a streak or two of arrogance and pride buried deep under our self-righteousness.

The Lord has a way of bringing these things to our attention and often it’s not a pleasant process. That’s when we need to take a deep breath, acknowledge our sin and take steps to act on God’s correction. In the end, like our writing, we will smile as we find our lives are the better for it. We see more clearly, and God’s presence is able to shine more brightly in and around us.

Even those chosen by the Lord to be his first disciples had to humble themselves before Him. None of them were perfect, all needed correction from time to time. Often the process was painful – see Luke 22:24-26 where Jesus rebukes the disciples for jockeying for position in the kingdom, or Luke 22:61-62 where Peter weeps bitterly after denying he ever knew Jesus. But always, after the rebuke, comes the forgiveness and the love. Though the disciples disappointed Jesus time and again He blessed them and made them into powerful men of God. None of us is exempt from the process because none of us is perfect. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 Correction is not only necessary to make our work and our lives better, it is necessary so that we will become the people God intends us to be, able to do His work and His will, able to stand before Him one day as he says, “Well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). 

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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. The sequel, A Tumbled Stone was short listed in The Word Awards. Marcia also has four devotional books in print and has contributed to several anthologies. Her work has been endorsed by Sigmund Brouwer, Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and Mark Buchanan. 

Abundant Rain, an ebook devotional for writers can be downloaded on Smashwords or on Amazon. It is also now available in Journal format on Amazon. 

Her most recent release is Celebrate This Day, a devotional book for special occasions like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving. 

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