Everyone has a book in them… but it may not want to come out

A very long time ago I had an idea for a novel. I even had what I thought was a clever title. So, I started writing. It’s set in a specific time period and, as I wrote, I was delighted to see how actual events happened around that time which I could incorporate into the narrative.

I have written just over 21,000 words so far and there’s at least that many more to come in my mind. The writing flowed and the story grew and I felt more and more pleased with myself.

And then, for a reason I can’t remember or explain, I stopped the writing. I suspect I had a busy season when I needed to focus on something else and then I never resumed. They say everyone has a book in them, but mine doesn’t want to come out.

Why am I telling you this? One reason is that recently I found myself opening up the old file, re-reading what I had written, and feeling that I ought to carry on. I have done a bit of work on it again and it does feel good to be doing it. So I am telling you in the hope that it will motivate me to keep going – accountability perhaps.

The second reason is that I wonder how many projects have been started and then, for whatever reason, have lain dormant. Things have happened, life has moved on, priorities have changed and so on. And what felt good and worthwhile in the past just drifted away and is now a distant memory. Does that resonate with you?

I think that for many people their faith fits into that category. There was a time when it was vibrant and lively and exciting. It energised you and you felt that it was important. And then unintentionally it drifted. You may well not have made a conscious decision to let go, it just happened gradually and then, when you realised, the other things that have replaced it seemed too difficult or important to let go of in order to pick it up again.

If that is you, and like me with my novel there’s still a latent yearning to start again, the brilliant thing about the Christian faith is that Jesus is desperate for us to do that. There’s no shame or guilt, just joy that you’re back. The parables of the lost sheep, coin and son (Luke 15) tell us that.

So what about it? Would you give it another go? Take the first step… get in touch with a friend you know still goes to your old church and ask if you can go with them. Make their day. Make God’s day!