You were born an original, don’t die a copy. -John Mason, founder of Insight International
All the Christian speculative fiction writers out there could tell you–we get a lot of “looks.” You know the kind I’m talking about. The raised eyebrow, the polite cough. A surprised, “Oh.”
One of the more interesting comments in a conversation at the ACFW conference was “I don’t know how you come up with that stuff. I couldn’t get my brain to work like that.” (Those may not be exact words.) Now, I wasn’t offended, but I did set there and think, “Yes, because God made our brains so different from yours.”
Afterwards, I thought about it and…he was right.
God did make my brain different from his. From yours. I am an individual. He made me to be me. Not anyone else. I am a unique individual endowed with very specific gifts and strengths. They were NOT meant for someone else. Only by embracing His gifts will I fullfill my purpose.
When we get those responses from people (about anything, not just writing), we tend to have one of two reactions. We either get defensive and throw our uniqueness in someone’s face, or we get the urge to compromise, to work our way into the mold. Neither response does anyone any good.
We are God’s people! We are all part of the body. Not all of us can be hands, or feet, or heads. If we were, we would be lopsided and ineffectual as a whole. God blessed us with originality–embrace it! Rejoice in God’s omnipotence–He knows all, and knows just what people need, what we need, what the people we come across need. It all fits together in a nice puzzle. As humans, though, we can only see our piece, and not how it fits in the whole picture. That’s why we need to trust in God, trust that He formed us in the womb and did NOT make a mistake.
Be the original. Embrace your purpose.
Don’t die a copy.
Love this post Ralene! Sometimes I catch myself qualifying my latest book idea with, “This is kind of weird,” or “It’s a little out there.” But I know God had me write the story, so I just have to trust him with the rest. It’s so hard not to see the whole picture, but comforting at the same time to know it’s out of my hands. He’s in control. Phew! A little less pressure on me.