Have you ever volunteered for something and then realized later that you were in way over your head? That there was a good chance you were going to make a fool out of yourself?
Yeah, me neither.
Except, well, there was this one time. A writer I admire had some openings for guest bloggers. And I said, “Me, pick me!”
Gulp.
She did.
It might have been okay if I could have written my post immediately. But my assigned slot was over a year away. A lot can happen in a year.
That blog can host writers I happen to have a serious “writer’s crush” on—like Ann Voskamp and Mary DeMuth. Writers who’ve self-published, writers who speak, writers who’ve been traditionally published, and even some gifted filmmakers.
Faced with the amazing people highlighted on this blog, my confidence waned, ebbed, disappeared entirely.
Who am I? Unpublished, unknown, taking up valuable space on a popular blog? What was I thinking?
I considered handing in a little note that said, “Thank you for the opportunity, but I’ve come to my senses and respectfully withdraw for the good of writers everywhere.”
But a few weeks ago, as I pondered, fretted, STRESSED over what to share, I spent some time studying the concept of excellence.
I like excellence. Actually, I like perfection. And I used to think they were the same thing. But that’s not necessarily the case.
Don’t get me wrong. I believe that as Christian writers we’re called to the highest standards. We should always be learning and expanding our writing horizons.
But sometimes in the process of trying to improve, we become overwhelmed.
We don’t think we’ll ever be good enough. We can’t write like Jerry Jenkins. We aren’t as funny as Patsy Clairmont. We don’t have the spiritual insight of Beth Moore.
Guess what? God’s already got them. He wants you.
And, there’s no pressure here, but all He wants from you is excellence.
Don’t you feel better?
No?
Well, read on.
I discovered that one definition of Biblical excellence involves the idea of something fulfilling its purpose. An apple tree in blossom is excellent. Leaves flaming orange are excellent. Babies sleeping, toddlers expending energy in amounts equivalent to a nuclear detonation, teenagers leaving the nest—all are examples of excellence.
And this gives me hope.
I’m never going to write like Ann Voskamp. (Goodness knows I tried. It was a disaster).
I’m never going to speak like Vonda Skelton. (I ugly cry when I speak in public. It’s scary).
But I can write like me.
When God sees me doing what He designed me to do, He’s not comparing me to Ann or Vonda. He sees His creation, fulfilling His purpose for her.
And He sees excellence.
We don’t have to be like anyone else to be a sweet aroma in the heavens.
Put away the perfectionist and strive for excellence.
Write like you write. Speak like you speak.
Make Him smile!
Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. She blogs about faith, family, and her writing journey on her blog Out of the Boat. Lynn is a member of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and the Upstate Fellowship of Christian Writers. She lives in South Carolina where she hangs out with three lively children, one fabulous man, and a cast of imaginary characters who find their way onto the pages of her still unpublished novels. She drinks a lot of coffee.~~~~~~~
Vonda here: Wow, Lynn, thank you for joining us today! I love humor-with-a-message, and you did it! But just for the record, I cry ugly, too. :-/
Readers, be sure to check out Lynn’s bio and then (after you leave her a comment here:-) jump on over to her blog, Out of the Boat, for more of her entertaining writing!
PS: Don’t forget the new schedule starts today, so the MoGo call and the winner of Kristi Butler‘s book will be announced on Writer’s Headlines Thursday. Be sure to check back!
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your heart,
Vonda
