PLAIN AND SIMPLE

I’m always guilty of complicating things. I can take something that isn’t hard to understand and keep thinking about it till I make it totally confusing. It is like with writing. I just have those times I express myself and end up going beyond what is needed, making it in rewrite way to wordy and boring at times.

I think to the scriptures and how our Lord often used parables to communicate some truth. They were stories that were easy to remember and not very complicated to understand. He kept it plain and simple because it is the way people often best can grasp the meaning of something.

I wish I could say I always succeeded in learning from that model, but I don’t. I know I’m not alone in that regard and I hardly take pride in that aspect of my writing. But along the way sometimes I actually do manage to hit a home run in saying something the right way and with the right type of expression.

Of course does that mean that one should never use bigger words in communicating? The truth is there are times when it is necessary. Maybe not as many as I would like, but there are times just the same.

The most important thing I feel in the spiritual realm is letting the Lord’s spirit inspire the message. It is easy to allow one’s own thoughts and style of expression intrude upon that purpose.

Even today after years of writing I have to confess I am always amazed when some posting I made gets a very positive response. I know what strikes at my heart and I also know what I enjoy reading and thinking about.

However I am a total failure are knowing what always appeals to others. The posting I do that I think will touch often don’t. Then the ones that I think probably missed the mark are the ones that somebody else will often react to in a positive way.

In that regard then what I do most is try to be faithful and continue to let the thoughts flow. I always rejoice when it ends up ministering in some way and people feel touched in the process.

The hardest part is setting aside one’s ego. To not forget the purpose is to serve God’s will not my own need to write.

Along the way God is merciful and there are moments when some gem of accomplishment that warms me will come my way. Not so much in terms of things such as fame or riches, but small steps of inner healing and contentment. Enough to inspire without leading one to a precipice of boasting and arrogance.

And that is enough at times. It is so comforting in the times when I have to go back and rewrite some spiritual thought at the Lord’s spirit’s prodding to make it plain and simple.