| Sunny Side Up Feb. 18, 04 �2003, Kathleen Gibson What's that gift in your hand? During a European tour in my youth, I wandered often over the high mountain meadows of Switzerland. In the clear, still air of morning I heard the bells. Church bells, rocking deep melodies in their tall white spires; waking the villagers with a call to remember God. I heard too the smaller bells, worn by Jersey cows mincing their way along narrow paths to higher pasture. Every toll of every bell resonated through the pure air of those Alpine slopes. Every one, no matter how small, was heard and noticed by someone. When God put his thumb in my back and told me to write, I obeyed. Then he used the memory of those bells to help me articulate a mission statement, a grid through which I filter all my writing. Simply, it's this: I write to Challenge and change. To Honor God and help others. To Inspire beauty and invite faith. To Motivate to action. To Encourage, educate, or entertain. Those words together form the acrostic CHIME. Like those bells on the Swiss mountain meadows, I long for my words to strike a strong, clear note that lifts heads a little higher, sends thoughts a little farther... a little closer, perhaps, to God. Some of my days are spent on paid writing activities. Magazine articles. This column. Radio spots. An upcoming book. But many days I write for love alone. Letters to readers, helping newer writers. Editing and critiquing other's writing. For my church, there's often a program to develop, a communication to send, a poster or a meeting agenda to pound out. In only a few short years of professional writing, God has brought incredible richness into my life. If I was never to publish another word I could be content. The apostle Paul referred to God as being able to do "exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think." That's been my experience too, so much so that I call God my 'E triple A God': Exceeding. Abundant. Above All. I love writing. As long as I feel God's hand on my shoulder, I'll write. As long as I feel his breath blowing words into my soul, I'll write. And I'll wait for his winds to carry those words exactly where he wants them. Just like the chimes of the bells over those Swiss mountain meadows. But will I write forever? I don't know. I believe that often God always gives his children gifts for a specific reason. And sometimes for a limited season. It's dangerous to become entranced with our own gifts and abilities-whatever they be. God may have a different task waiting around our next corner. To be available, useable, we must open our hands and offer those gifts back to God. To take, develop, spread, or leave-as he pleases. What gift has God placed in your hands? Find it. Use it well. But hold it loosely. You can respond to this column at [email protected] |
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