Seek the
Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your
ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:6)
Prayer for me is a constant awareness of God in my day to day
life. When I sit at my desk to write, I know he is with me. Still, it is quite
normal for me to begin writing staring at a blank screen, especially if I
didn’t leave my latest project in the middle of a scene. When I quit my
previous project at such a point, it is easier to get my motor running.
Assignments like this, without a lightbulb moment, are very difficult. It takes
discipline.
While I stare at the screen, I force my mind and heart to rest, and
listen. Although I don’t verbalize my words, I invite God to direct my
thoughts. Sometimes a fire erupts and thoughts tumble into my mind faster than
my fingers can type them. Thought upon thought, in an orderly manner. But that
is rare. Most of the time, a little spark ignites, and as I respond to that
thought, another one glows, inviting me to explore it. Other times my mind
remains as blank as my screen.
At this point I will reread what others have written on the
subject, hoping something will awaken my slumbering brain. If nothing does, I try
to change the direction from which I approach the subject. Even doing that, quite
often, it is persevering, refusing to give up, squeezing out a thought, one
word at a time, all the while wondering if I’m ignorant on a subject I need to
write about.
But once I’m finished, and reread what I’ve written, I marvel at
how those squeezed out words actually say something. I am humbled, considering
how easy it would have been to quit, yet, my Heavenly Father led me down a path
on my blank screen I had no idea existed.
