Writer’s Block

It has been a while since I wrote my last blog, and for those who have been reading, I am sorry. Lutheran Musings is the first blog I have ever tried to write, and while I do a lot of creative writing, I had no idea how difficult this would be. The task became so daunting, the idea of trying to come up with something new each week. There were so many other projects that I needed to work on – Bible studies and confirmation classes to prepare, a homily to give – and so it was easy to put off the blog, especially since no ideas seemed worth writing anyway. What was more, I had my job to worry about, which seemed to be more demanding of my time than usual this fall. Before I knew it, four weeks had passed and I had not written a thing for Lutheran Musings, and worse, could not seem to get anything started. I had come face to face with a writer’s block.

For me (and I am sure for a lot of writers), a writer’s block does not mean that I cannot write. Once I get started, I can usually get something done. Sometimes it turns out even better than the pieces I write when the creative juices are flowing. Oh, but sitting down, getting those first words typed, that is the hard part. I feel as if I have no ideas, that there is too much to accomplish, that my time would be better spent on another project. Other times, I sit before the computer and do nothing but stare at the blank screen, my mind groping with futility for an idea. Finding nothing that seems to work, I eventually walk away in disgust.

This was the state I was in for the last few weeks. I felt that the task was too large for me, that I could never produce blogs on a regular basis. But eventually I realized that the problem was with the way I was looking at it. I was not trying to write stories or poems, after all, where I would need to rely on my own creativity. I was trying to write thoughts and musings inspired by the Holy Spirit. I was in fact in a situation much like Moses when he received God’s command at the burning bush. God told him to go back to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery. How did Moses respond? He said, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). Like me, he felt unworthy to accomplish such a task. He even continued to give excuses, no matter the assurances of God (Exodus 3:11 – 4:17). But in the end, he did as God commanded, and would eventually become the great leader of Israel that he was always meant to be.

Now, I am well aware that writing Lutheran Musings is not on the same level as bringing the tribes of Israel out of Egypt, but there was a lesson for me to learn here. I realized that if I stopped worrying so much about the task at hand and how to accomplish it, and trusted that God would help me when I had need, I would get the train chugging along the tracks once again. In other words, if I put my faith in God, the task would get accomplished. Now, isn’t that an interesting concept?

Peace be with you, my friends.

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