Writing for "The One"

A brief departure here from my usual blogs. I thought you'd like to hear what I use to inspire me as a writer. Back to my regular blog articles next week!

I also want to encourage you to visit a friend's blog: Strong Women. Brave Stories. Lyn Cote is posting chapters of a wonderful story! Don't miss out on this great free read!


"Doing it for the One"

I once had a friend who ran a mission for homeless men. So many of his clients seemed doomed to failure, and there didn’t appear to be many success stories that resulted from his endeavors. One day, during a conversation, I asked him, “Out of one hundred men, how many have you actually helped? How many changed their lives?”
He thought seriously for a moment. Then he answered, “Maybe one.”

I was flabbergasted. “How do you do this without giving up?”

He smiled and said, “I do it for the one.”

Writing is a gift. For Christian writers, it becomes something more. It is a ministry. But how can we reach out through our books and touch someone for Him? If we try to stuff our stories with too many spiritual ideas, we can actually dilute the message we want to send.

So, not long ago, after remembering my friend’s inspirational statement, I made a change. Now, I “do it for the one.” In other words, before I start a novel, I ask God to show me the person he wants to reach. Is it someone who didn’t have a father growing up and has a hard time trusting Father God? Or is it someone being abused, who needs to know there is a way out? Who is the person God wants to touch through this book? Doing this helps me to keep my focus and makes my message clearer.
For me, “doing it for the one,” is the way I can use my writing to really “do it for the One.”