“Life is God’s novel. Let him write it.” Isaac Bashevis Singer

I am often inspired to write by an event or an idea that occurs in the present moment. Sometimes I feel that I should write because it is an act of obedience and form of discipline, a devotion to God, but I don’t feel inspired. For those times I keep a list of ideas in a little journal. I read through that until something inspires me and I write. Today was one of those days. I thought I should write a blog about the New Year, so I was thumbing through the book looking for something along those lines. I didn’t find anything, but something caught my eye, and immediately I knew that I had found my idea for today.

It wasn’t any of my clever blog ideas. It wasn’t the profound but often elucidated idea of the blank page. But the thing that caught my eye was a surprise I found in my little book. It was scribbling that I assume was written there by a beloved grandchild. I laughed and thought of my little people, any one of which may have been the perpetrator (except Elsie, she’s too new).

I realized that those squiggles and swirls would be the impetus for this blog. Because you see, I have a sign above my office door that is all about the scribbles that I write. It reads, “Life is a book unwritten. Only you hold the pen.” Although I always knew that wasn’t exactly true, I never realized how wrong it is.

The quote above is how great people of faith wrote the book of their life; they let God do it. I realize that God writes great plans and ideas on the pages of my day. I also realize that I scribble over them. My “writing” is, I’m positive, looked upon by God in love. He understands the urge to express myself when I see an unattended writing instrument. He still sees me as a beloved child. He also knows that compared to what he writes, mine is unintelligible gobbledygook. So a mature person would refrain from defacing the book and let the Author’s words stand alone on the page.

So, in a way, I guess this is a blog for the New Year. In this New Year, I plan to scribble on my life less. My real desire is to see what God is writing and enjoy the story.

“The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;” (Psalm 37:18, ESV)