“Cultivating the Garden of Your Heart”
Dear writer, I hope you had an excellent week and were able to dive into some of your life experiences! Today, we’re going to take a look more specifically at the various inputs in our lives and how they shape our unique voice. After all…
There are certain things we consume regularly…certain kinds of art or music or stories or messages…that strongly shape the way we approach life, the way we write, and what we write about. But before we dive in, let’s take a look at some others whose inputs strongly shaped their work.
Inputs in History
C.S. Lewis is a great example of a man who was shaped by unique inputs. As a college student, he took an interest in Norse mythology and the fairy tales of George MacDonald. The influence of both can be seen blended into Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, which brought an entirely fresh expression to the ancient Biblical truths about God and man and salvation that have introduced millions of unbelievers to the concept of the Gospel, man’s need for a savior, and of sacrificial atonement.
Inputs in the Bible
Solomon is another good example of someone shaped dramatically by his inputs. If you read Proverbs carefully, you will find many themes from his father David’s psalms mixed with the rich Biblical principles found in the Mosaic law. These inputs naturally combined in Solomon to create the hundreds upon hundreds of practical and pointed phrases that express sometimes in poetic and sometimes in laymen’s terms the deep wisdom and truths of God’s love and laws. Proverbs continues to be one of the most popular books in the Bible, its verses that are often embrace and quoted by nonbelievers because of the strength of the principles they embody in such a beautiful and simple way.
Inputs in Life
I noticed the affect of inputs in my life most when I started receiving reviews for my first novel. Some people said it reminded them of Tolkien. Some, of Lewis. Others, of George MacDonald. Some readers said the prose flowed so smoothly and with such strong imagery that it was almost like watching a movie. Now here’s the interesting thing. All those authors named were ones I had read often and enjoyed immensely throughout my life. And though it surprised me at first, when I reflected on their comments it made sense. Hints of each author had shaped my unique voice. In addition to that, I am a part-time filmmaker and studied the art of visual storytelling in college as part of my major. All these inputs combined to create one unique expression—a unique voice—to share the story God had put on my heart in a way that could share timeless truths with a modern, hurried audience.
Inputs in Your Life
And it’s the same with you, writer. There have been significant streams of input in our life that have combined to create a unique flow of the Lord’s spirit through you to others. And often you will be drawn to certain inputs because bits and piece of them resonate with the unique message and voice God has given you. Let me show you…
- Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. – Psalm 42:7
- He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet a no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end – Ecclesiastes 3:11-12
- The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. – Proverbs 20:5
- Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. – Proverbs 4:23
- Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” – John 7:38
- For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you. – Proverbs 23:7
You see, writer, God has placed bits of eternity into us. Glimpses of His heart and glory that cause our hearts to leap when we see something that stirs up that bit of His heart in us. That is why looking at the inputs in our lives can be so powerful. Because whenever we are drawn repeatedly to some expression of something good, beautiful, or true in His world or recreated by men, it usually gives a strong indicator of His unique expression in us. And when we recognize those inputs, it can help us embrace our voice as a writer. Because here’s the thing…
Two of the biggest obstacles to your writing journey are impersonation and the imposter syndrome. Impersonation is the inclination to simply copy the style of your favorite authors, but when you can begin to recognize why you love certain aspects of other’s work, you can sometimes begin to recognize in them the things naturally gifted to you—that God has put in you—and affirm those things without feeling the need to become someone you’re not. Because here’s the thing…
God already has C.S. Lewis. He already has Max Lucado. He already has a Sarah Young. What He wants now in this time a space of history…is you.
Where to Start with Inputs
So are you ready to take a look at the inputs in your life? Here are a few ideas to get you started!
- Consider the Sources. Compile a list of some of your favorite inputs, whether it is a certain book, author, genre, movie, artist or more. Also assess your research and media habits. What lines of study have you pursued? What leaders or influencers do you follow online? What topics do you tend to research over and over again? This is a great springboard to begin understanding the influences that are likely shaping your voice!
- Identify What You Love. Now that you have a pretty good list, take a closer look. Especially your largest inputs. What exactly do you love about them? Why are you drawn to them again and again? As you being to identify those elements, you might also begin to recognize similar traits in your own work and begin to more easily hone and embrace them.
- Assess Your Impressionability. Are you easily swayed by new input? A good way to see is to pay attention to how quickly you adopt someone else’s method of speaking when you are in a conversation? Another good way is to gauge how quickly you adopt new trends in clothing, food, technology, etc. If you are a highly impressionable person, you will want to take time to distinguish what is “you” and what new things you are simply “trying on.”
- Consider Paring Down. If you find yourself to be highly impressionable, never fear. This is part of your voice, and the adaptability can be a great communication asset. But when you are working on a specific manuscript, it could be a good idea to consider turning off inputs until you have solid draft. Or, consider allowing only inputs that support the particular expression you want. For others, this aspect makes no difference! This is just about you knowing you. Because here’s the thing…
We can sometimes get inundated with so many inputs, that we being to lose focus and dissipate our energy and efforts for the work we were called to do. Because here’s the other thing. Our inputs—anything we consistently take in over and over again—will absolutely shape us. When we are drawn to those inputs out of a love for what is beautiful, good, and true through our God-given passions and interests, those inputs naturally shape us in the way God intended. But when we draw on certain inputs because of fear, dissatisfaction, or a simple desire to escape, those inputs will shape us, too. Though often in “bent” ways.
You’ll notice with Solomon that, as he grew in power as king, he began to receive inputs not just from the teaching of Torah and his memories of his father’s leadership, but also from his hundreds of foreign wives. And here’s the thing. In the face of that onslaught of constant input, all the wisdom in the world wasn’t enough to keep his heart from turning away from the Lord. But here’s the good news…
If you find there are things in your life or writing that you don’t like, you can often take look at your inputs and begin to see where the problem starts. And you can choose to feed yourself instead with things that will grow the opposite. Because here’s the real deal. God is not the only one who places inputs in the world or in us. Part of learning to determine what inputs He’s placed in your life, is learning to discern what inputs are actually drawing your heart and mind away from the high calling He’s given you.
Our hearts and minds are indeed, like a garden, and what we continually plant and water, we will reap. When we begin to recognize the inputs that have shaped us, and how God has used them, we can begin to intentionally partner with Him to grow and steward the garden of our hearts and mind by beginning to do on purpose what we used to do by accident. We can pull out the weeds and begin nurturing those seeds of God’s glory He’s placed in us.
So I encourage you today, if you have not done so before, to take a bit of time to pause and prayerfully consider your inputs. What are they? Why do you love them? Why do you find them life-giving? If you don’t love and they don’t bring life, how might you begin to replace them? Because here’s the final thought…
Just like Lewis’s inputs of fairy stories and Norse mythology bubbled into a book series that has touched millions, just like Solomon’s study of Torah under the leading of his father crafted proverbs that have changed lives across the centuries, just like my reading and study of film created a work of depth and simplicity that was able to capture the heart of modern readers…when you being to tend the garden of your mind, you will pave the way for God’s light and life to blossom in and through you, too.
#input #discern #growth #glory #EveryWriterWriting
