Fully His

I went through the penultimate edit of my new book, Joe- The Horse Nobody Loved. Unfortunately, I got so caught up in the story that I lost track of editing. I relived those years of my childhood with the horse I loved, and dinner time rolled around. Dinner was unmade, and I was reduced to a puddle of tears.

I'll try the penultimate edit again today.

This book was so important to me that I sent samples to a couple of prospective editors. I wanted this book to be as perfect as possible so I would shop around a bit for the perfect editor. One editor, after reading the 5,000 word sample sent me back a synopsis of the story, an understanding of the characters, and even an analysis of the deeper meaning. He was spot on. I hired him instantly. It is rare that someone truly "gets you." He understood, and I knew he would help correct without destroying my writer's voice in the process.

When I was contemplating the choice to believe in God or not, one of my greatest fears was that my voice, my individuality would be destroyed. It would be swallowed up in the great vortex of God. I would be a sheep, a follower. The most important part of my essence, my uniqueness in creativity, would be destroyed.

In fact, the opposite happened. Certainly, I became a part of a unity, of a whole, of the kingdom of God. But I was not just an indistinguishable drop in an ocean of humanity as I feared. All that I was meant to be, the individual plan for which I was created, was released. I was freed...not bound. If anyone understood my voice, it was God. Afterall, He created it. I was at once fully His, and therefore, fully me.

Romans 12:

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,

5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.

7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;

8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.