Writers Block

A blank piece of paper is God's way of telling us how hard it is to be God. Sidney Sheldon

So, I have writers block. More accurately, I've HAD writers block for awhile now as evidenced by the gaping maw of time between my last blog and this one. Friends have tried to encourage me to write (thanks Sarah and Carla!) but I just haven’t felt inspired in the slightest.

Someone once said "If you wait for inspiration, you're not a writer, but a waiter." Perhaps that anonymous person chose to remain nameless for fear of being tarred and feathered by an angry mob of frustrated writers. A braver Jack London seems to agree when he says, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." J.B. Priestly breaks it down a bit more: "If all feels hopeless, if that famous 'inspiration' will not come, write. Go to your desk no matter what your mood, face the icy challenge of the paper - write." And finally, Louis L'Amour sums things up: "If you’re going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow."

With those wise words swirling round my noggin, I'm recommitting to cease waiting for inspiration and simply start typing. Please forgive in advance the first few pumps of "stagnant water" about to flow...

The Naughty Chair

Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you. Deuteronomy 8:5

Have you ever watch the show Super Nanny? A British nanny named Jo, who quite resembles Mary Poppins, comes to rescue families with very disobedient children. The kids are horrid, but the show is more for the parents than the children. The parents have fallen into enabling their kids and tend to want to befriend their kids rather than discipline them.

One of the typical routines Jo does to help the parent establish control is to create a Naughty Chair (or as she says in her thick British accent - the "noo-tee cheh"). Whenever the child misbehaves, they are told to sit in the chair until they are released. However, because the kids aren't used to discipline, they never stay in The Naughty Chair for long. A moment after Jo sits them down, they bounce right up again, chasing her back into the other room. The strung out parents look unnerved, thinking, "Well what now?" but Jo patiently walks the kid back to the chair and sits them down again. This routine repeats over and over until a miracle happens - the child realizes she is serious, and they give up and sit down in The Naughty Chair.

So, I have had a strange epiphany: my recent prayer times are like an episode of Super Nanny. As I try to focus on God during prayer, my undisciplined thoughts jump around like hyperactive kids and wander to other things, such as shopping lists and waiting laundry. I have to intentionally walk them back to God and make them sit down and behave. But they quickly rebell and soon are bouncing around the room. Often, like the worn down parents on reality TV, I think "This is pointless! They will never stay put!" But after 50 or so trips back and forth, they realize I am serious. And they often give up, and give in, and finally become still.