From the Editors Desk: What Fiction and Reality Have in Common
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Any seasoned author of fiction will tell you:
Refrain from telling what a character is not doing, and instead show what he is doing.
Samplings of what to avoid when writing story:
- Charlotte dared not move a muscle when the gang walked by.
- Doug did not say a word.
- Little Zackery would not respond to his mother’s call.
The above descriptions deprive the reader of any helpful information, such as personality, emotion, or setting.
Yet this prosaic writing approach is easy to fall into because, in our day-to-day lives, we often think and make I-am-not or I-won’t statements. We naturally communicate to other people what we are not doing, perhaps in self-defense. I am not talking to her ever again. Or, I am not riding that roller coaster!
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Whereas excellent writing brings characters to life by showing what they are doing. Note the depth and richness you can convey when you show what is happening in a story.:
- Charlotte held her breath and stood like a statue in the shadows, as the blade-carrying gang prowled past. (She is actively not moving.)
- Doug clenched his teeth to block the mean words rising from his gut. (His deeper motivation for not speaking.)
- Little Zackery closed his eyes and pulled the blanket over his head. “Zackie’s not here! He went to work with Daddy.” (This displays a child’s character and gives a hint at his inner sadness and not wanting to face the day.)
Enrich your writing by showing the reader what your characters are doing during their moment of inaction.
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How this translates to our faith walk
According to the Bible, our New Covenant through Christ gives believers a unique power:
“…I will embed my laws within their thoughts
and fasten them onto their hearts.
I will be their loyal God and they will be my loyal people.”
Hebrews 8:10 TPT
He lives in me and I live in Him (John 15). Might this mean that the Ten “Thou Shalt Nots” can become the “Ten Ways I get to live for God”?
Let’s exchange what “I’m not doing” for “What I am doing.”
I get to love the Lord God with all my heart, soul, and strength — and Him only (Exodus 20:3). The Cross unlocked the shackles of sin that once held me back!
I now have the power to rid my heart of all the idols and sin that weigh me down. (Exodus 20:4, Hebrews 12)
More than a duty, it’s my privilege to honor the Lord’s name every time I speak it. Why? Because He sacrificed to the point of death to make me righteous. I love the name of Jesus/Yeshua! (Exodus 20:7)
I get to honor and keep the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8). #NeedMyRest. Okay, there was no shalt not in that verse, so we simply get to restate our agreement.
I get to honor my mother and father and live long (Exodus 20:12). No change here either but an acknowledgement of a universal truth. #PromiseIncluded
I get to preserve and protect others (my neighbor), for God loved us first. Even when my patience wears thin or I’m deeply offended, His grace, power, and Spirit make this possible! (Exodus 20:13; Romans 13:9)
I get to remain 100% faithful to my God and my spouse (Exodus 20:14) as Christ is 100% faithful to His Bride. Whoa! Praise God for the supernatural power of His grace that enables me to go against the grain of society. #LivingRighteously
I get to give generously, even radically. What’s there to take from others when my Father owns all the gold and silver and the cattle on a thousand hills? God promises to provide abundantly for me. (Exodus 20:15, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 6:33)
If someone tries to intimidate or bribe me into giving a false testimony, I am empowered to tell the truth about a person or situation (Exodus 20:16). Jesus showed me how to do this even when it turns others against me. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
I get to celebrate your life with you — your marriage, your children, your possession — even if from a distance (Exodus 20:17). God is good and His calling on each of our lives is different. #NoRoomForComparison
Just like showing what my fictional characters ARE doing, I get to live in an “I get to!” reality rather than the under the tormenting weight of the “Thou shalt not” system. His law is embedded in my thoughts and fastened to my heart. It’s part of the Salvation package when I ask Jesus to be my Lord.
What better sign of your true freedom than the supernatural power alive in you, helping you do what’s right and good. Are you living free?
#LivingTheFavorableLifestyle.
Sowing Seeds of Bravery to Live Favorably
