Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14, NIV)
I reread these familiar verses recently in the wake of a painful rejection of a book project. They struck me anew with the application to a writer's life.
Even with six books to my name, I haven't obtained it. I haven't made it. And I'm far from perfect (as proved by the detailed notes in the rejection letter from the editor).
But I need to keep pressing on, to "take hold," to improve my craft, to become the writer God wants me to be.
To do that, I have to forget what is behind. I need to put past successes, my nomination for a Book of the Year award, numerous contracts and change to a full time, profressional status in the rear view mirror and move forward. I also must set aside the rejection, learn from it, but not let it stop me. I have a set a goal, a goal I believe honors God, and achieving that goal will take pressing on and straining forward.
All of my striving shares one common purpose: the prize, the ultimate gift of serving the Lord who gave everyone for me.
I needed that word from the Lord at one of those vulnerable times in my writer's life.
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Darlene Franklin
Darlene Franklin
About Me
- Darlene Franklin
- Oklahoma
- Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin lives in cowboy country—Oklahoma. Oklahoma has the benefit of being the home to her son, his wife, and their four beautiful children. Darlene loves music, needlework, reading and reality tv. She currently resides in a nursing home, which has become a place of blessing. Darlene is the author of twenty-five novels and novellas. She has also written around 250 devotionals and personal experience pieces for various publications, including her soon-to-release book, It Is Well with my Soul. For links to her books and other writing, check out the second page of the blog.
3 comments:
You are so right, Darlene. The Lord will be right there with you every step of the way. So often the timeframe we imagine is not the same as His. Blessings as you write this week!
Good word, Darlene. It's easy to think an author with multiple books to her name, has it made. But I see the same raw emotions splayed across all our faces when a book proposal is rejected.
God has led you to it and He will see you through it. It's a big step to become a full time writer and He will guide you.
Meanwhile, I'm sending you hugs across cyberspace.
You are giving wise counsel, to press ahead. Current and past rejections and successes have occurred but today is a new day with hope and promise in it, thank goodness.
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