This entry is part of a blog series, Time Capsules, in which I tell you about places in our home where the blessings of our history are evident in stored artifacts. This time around, join me in rummaging around inside the boxes that hold my collected writings!
It is said that you may call yourself an author when you’ve written and/or published more than one million words. After all these years, I’ve reached that milestone and beyond—I are a writer…!
When I look through the several bins and file cabinets where decades of my written works are collected, I see books, curricula, short courses, workshop and retreat designs, resource reviews, journal articles, presentations, media kits, devotions books, user guides and stories. All of them were aimed at congregational leaders. All of them tools for congregational vitality.
As I poke around in these resources, I often remember the people I hoped to benefit—to equip with specific skills or bits of knowledge. Their ministries compelled me to craft these works. As words gathered together in various formats, I tried to put myself in the shoes of my imagined audiences, and added prayers of admiration for them. My goal? I wanted these leaders to be effective, joyful and hopeful in their ministries.
Except for the published books, most items in the body of my work were written for a specific time and place. However short their original usefulness, though, in my mind they remain relevant, ready to be put back to use—some ideas and ideals endure in spite of circumstances!
As I look through the time capsules of my writing, I remember the situations in which these resources were first used, the privilege I was given to develop and offer them, and the help they offered to leaders looking for fresh and useful insights. I thank God for the opportunities to use the word-smithing gifts that have been given to me. All one-million words’ worth.
Perhaps the most gratifying part of these rummaging experiences: Realizing that the corpus of my opus likely accomplished something!
*Note to linguistic purists: Yes, I am aware that this title is technically incorrect in at least three ways: The inappropriate conjoining of similar Latinate words, the misappropriation of a normally musical term to written works, and the absence of the plural form of opus. But how often does one get the opportunity to rhyme Latin? Mea culpa….
