The Never Ending Gifts

“I’m so dense—why didn’t I see this before?” The room brightened and a heavy weight lifted off my chest as my thoughts zoomed back to the story Allen Arnold told in his writer’s class at Mt. Hermon the year before.

“Son, do you want to go for a ride with me in my truck?”

“Yes.” The boy looked up eagerly and smiled.

“But don’t you want to know where we’re going first?”

“No. I just want to go with you.”

Allen went on to explain that writing with God can be like that. We write the story together with God and see where it goes, but the fun part is just doing something with our Heavenly Father.

I took this lesson to heart and had a great time writing my next project with God. I’d ask God for wisdom and words to write, and watch with wonder as the words flowed more easily onto the page.

But now, here I was sitting in Allen’s class at another Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference, anxious about getting this writing project published. I could self-publish, but my stomach knotted at the thought. There was so much to learn. I wanted an experienced publisher to help me. I didn’t want to tackle publishing alone.

Then Allen told the story about his son again, and it hit me. I’m not alone. God is always with me, whether I’m writing or publishing. Why hadn’t I realized this before? Compartmentalization, I guessed.

God could be as real to me in the publishing process as he was in the writing process if I remembered to trust in him and listen to his guidance. I smiled.

And not only that. I could expand my “writing with God” experience into a “riding with God” experience in every aspect of my life. This could be a new way to approach living in God’s presence.

So that’s my next goal—to talk with Jesus throughout my day, thanking him and asking for his guidance, with a mindset of just enjoying his company and the journey. Whatever project I tackle, I don’t need to be anxious. I can look up and relax. I’m not alone.