Today’s moment is the second in a series of brief meditations I’ve created based on my new book, Sacred Margins: On the Spiritual Life of a Writer. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
The transcript of the video is below. If you cannot see the video, click through to our website or to YouTube, where you can view it.
The book itself will be released on May 19th in paperback, ebook, and audio formats. You can preorder the book here: https://amzn.to/3P5jVj8.
The first episode, “Why the Margins Are Sacred,” can be found on YouTube channel; click this link. (Subscribe when you visit to get early access to new episodes as they are uploaded.)
Transcript:
Today’s episode is called “A Fire in the Bones.”
If you could stop writing and be at peace …
you would have already done it.
Some people write because they want to.
Others write because they have to.
The words just don’t leave them alone.
At first, they whisper.
Then they press.
And eventually, they demand release.
The prophet Jeremiah described it this way in chapter 20, verse 9:
“There is in my heart, as it were, a burning fire shut up in my bones and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.”
That fire isn’t ambition.
It isn’t ego.
It is a sacred compulsion.
Writing is often not something you choose.
It is something you surrender to.
Some writers release words in a rush.
For others it is one careful sentence or one word at a time.
But all are haunted by what remains unwritten.
And here’s an important thought.
That fire is not conceit, as if you know more than others do.
It is stewardship.
God does not ignite the fire without purpose.
If you feel this pressure—
this holy restlessness—
the question should not be, “Do I have enough talent?”
The question is,
“Will I be faithful enough to write it?”
Thank you for listening.
Until next time—write faithfully.
I write because I’ve been told that I know stuff from the cancer thing that can help people through the dark places of life, and can communicate effectively.
Maybe that’s why God’s keeping me alive. The prognosis was that I’d be dead years ago. Instead, it’s my doctor that died, and though that’s a hoary joke, it’s not funny, because he was a good man, and a friend.
So there it is. God gave me the tools and the job, and said , Get on with it.
I’d rather be surfing, but whatever.
((hugs)) and prayers, Andrew!
My hubby and I have a similar story, Andrew. He’s a two-time cancer survivor, and I’m a two-time cancer caregiver and together God has taught us much and shown us how to beat it. The journey has been one of moving from faith in Him to trust in Him and it has been life-changing.
Blessing upon you,
Linda
Pre-ordered, and looking forward to it.
Yes and amen. You’ve got a way with words, Steve. You must be one of us. I knew it all along.
We God-writers are like today’s Baruch.
We listen, then write the words we hear. They are personal truths, often too brutally personal to share. But we write them anyway. And anywhere. In journals and book margins, in emails and texts, on Post-Its and napkins.
For me, today’s question is a done deal. Yes, I write because I have to or I will burst.
The hard second question is: What do I do with the words?
The countless “truths” in the margins of countless Bibles.
The volumes of questions wrestled out with the Angel of the Lord. And His answers full of healing grace–and sometimes even painful “hip-replaced” corrective thinking.
The Bible studies of ancient workplace struggles that still hold meaning for our workplaces today.
Was it all just for me? If not, what do I do with all those words now?
I’m ordering the book today.
Thank you!
I’ve never thought of writing as stewardship. Thank you for such insight.
You are a tough act to follow but I am always drawn to stay with it!
Definitely preordered!!!
Yes! This is me. I write because I can’t NOT write. And I’ve tried a few times.
Looking forward to your book, Steve!
So true and insightful. Stewardship. I hadn’t looked at writing as stewardship. Thank you for sharing. Congratulations on your new book. Pre-ordering now.
Writing is stewardship. Do I bury my talent in the backyard, or do I invest it for the kingdom of God?
Something to ponder — thank you, Steve.
Beautifully said! Thanks for pointing out Jer. 20:9. I’ll add that one to my memory verses. And it looks like this book will be in my library soon.
The idea of an inner drive that cannot be suppressed jumped out at me.
Fixing and improving things drives me—think of the characters MacGyver, Montgomery Scott, or Rodney McKay. This includes ideas and processes. This drives much of my content production—writing, diagrams, and data visualization among other things. Whatever seems most appropriate to the issue at hand.
I cannot bring myself to police grammar or enforce rules. My brain constantly notices exceptions. I thrive on figuring out what is wrong with existing procedures, systems, or rules…and I thrive on freeing people from those things so they can thrive.
Your book is perfect timing for me so I preordered it. Such an insightful way to frame the burning fire to write as a sacred compulsion and answering that “call to write” as stewardship.
Dear Mr. Laube,
Your article was released just in time to help me understand why I continue to write. I have been contemplating my reasons to stop for quite awhile. I pray for God’s guidance and wisdom, but something always seemed to occur when I was plowing ahead. I interpreted such as an indication to cease; however, I shall consider this article seriously before doing so.
Thank you and God bless you!
I’ve been searching for a book about writing from the Christian viewpoint. Thank you for writing this.
Wow, Steve, that was beautiful.
All my adult life I have told God I will quit writing when he wants me to.
(I also told him I would quit teaching when he wants me to, and sure enough, when it was time, he gave me a treatable cancer with a two-year chemo plan!]
So far he hasn’t quit sending me material.
It is my joy to be faithful!
For me, words are like magic! I can create an entire world that is seen and felt and tasted and smelled and heard with just words. That thought ALWAYS boggles my mind!
We live in language, and just like fish swim, we language. It’s a fundamental part of what it means to be human. So to be able to tap into that and impact a soul with words, is crazy amazing to me.
Sacred compulsion. Such an elegant phrase. Thank you, Steve.
Beautiful truth, Steve. I am hosting a class at our church for would-be writers, Called to Write. I will share this and recommend your book. I love this.