Well, after a couple years of writing this blog, it's time to retire it. Honestly, it's mostly just the name--seems very few people can understand (much less spell) "ruach." Makes the website a bit harder to find. Anyway, I'll be continuing over at www.thehopefulheretic.com
You can read more about the change here.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Growing with God
I think maybe our relationship with God goes through stages, much like life.
As children, God teaches us complete dependence on Him, that we may learn to fear and trust Him always.
As we grow older, we gain responsibilities and freedoms. The rules that we once followed blindly, we learn have purpose behind them.
Follow this track onward, you might think God is leading us to a place of independence. Indeed, that's how our culture portrays the stages of life. But, God designed something different. He leads us to a sort of interdependence. A partnership. A marriage. And this is far more beautiful than anything that man could contrive.
As children, God teaches us complete dependence on Him, that we may learn to fear and trust Him always.
As we grow older, we gain responsibilities and freedoms. The rules that we once followed blindly, we learn have purpose behind them.
Follow this track onward, you might think God is leading us to a place of independence. Indeed, that's how our culture portrays the stages of life. But, God designed something different. He leads us to a sort of interdependence. A partnership. A marriage. And this is far more beautiful than anything that man could contrive.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
What I Don't Know
"We act like we have to get it all figured out before we can make a difference; like we have to have achieved "perfect" observance before we can fulfill our life mission. We feel like we are given a short period of learning/training before life really begins, and if we don't get our lives straight soon, we will be wasting time. "
There's soooo much I don't know...things that seem like they should be basic and foundational. Things like our identity in relation to Israel, or to what extant we're supposed to keep the commandments, or how to keep Sabbath. Oral Torah, Karaitism, Noachide, Covenantalism, Dispensationalism, Two House, One House, One Law, Traditional, non-traditional, and dozen other labels and non-labels. I would love so much to know where I stand so that I can teach my family and teach others, but the truth is so often I don't know.
Sometimes I think I know. But there's always a hole, always a contradiction, always a difficulty. I've changed my mind many times in the last several years. I want to go into ministry--that's where my heart is at--but sometimes I'm afraid that what I teach today won't be what I believe tomorrow. Words have power and I'm responsible for what I put forward.
Sometimes I have to fall back to the few things I know:
Adonai is the Creator of the universe.
He is my Father and my King.
He created man in His own image, inscribing His signature on every human soul.
He has promised us the Hope of a future Sabbath rest--of freedom, restoration, healing, and redemption. A place to call home.
Sometimes I just have to admit I don't know.
There's soooo much I don't know...things that seem like they should be basic and foundational. Things like our identity in relation to Israel, or to what extant we're supposed to keep the commandments, or how to keep Sabbath. Oral Torah, Karaitism, Noachide, Covenantalism, Dispensationalism, Two House, One House, One Law, Traditional, non-traditional, and dozen other labels and non-labels. I would love so much to know where I stand so that I can teach my family and teach others, but the truth is so often I don't know.
Sometimes I think I know. But there's always a hole, always a contradiction, always a difficulty. I've changed my mind many times in the last several years. I want to go into ministry--that's where my heart is at--but sometimes I'm afraid that what I teach today won't be what I believe tomorrow. Words have power and I'm responsible for what I put forward.
Sometimes I have to fall back to the few things I know:
Adonai is the Creator of the universe.
He is my Father and my King.
He created man in His own image, inscribing His signature on every human soul.
He has promised us the Hope of a future Sabbath rest--of freedom, restoration, healing, and redemption. A place to call home.
Sometimes I just have to admit I don't know.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Broken Tablets and the Heart of the Torah
Moshe Kline thought so too, so he set out to study the structure of Leviticus 19. His results were quite revealing. He found that Leviticus 19 is actually arranged according to a complex structure that points back to the ten commandments. You can find more details on his study here. Chapter 3 discusses the literary structure of Leviticus as a whole, while chapters 5 and 6 focus in on Leviticus 19 specifically.
Here, I want to build on the results of that study a bit. First a quick summary:
Moshe Kline puts forward the idea that Leviticus is arranged according to the Tabernacle. For the first 18 chapters, one is walking inward, progressing into the more intimate areas of God's holy place. From 20 onward, one is progressing outward back toward the people. Chapter 19 stands in the middle as the turning point where the Ark of the Covenant stands.
According to Moshe Kline, Leviticus 19 is arranged something like the following table (where each block represents a paragraph ending in "I am the LORD" and the numbers are verses):
| 1-2 | 11-12 |
| 3 | 13-14 |
| 4 | 15-16 |
| 5-10 | 17-18 |
| 19-25 | |
| 26-28 | 32 |
| 29-30 | 33-34 |
| 31 | 35-36 |
As you can see, it is arranged into two columns, much like the ten commandments. If you examine the contents of each column, you will see that there is another similarity here. The first column focuses mainly on God-oriented commands (like the first 5 of the ten commandments) while the second column focuses mainly on neighbor-oriented commands. In fact, the majority of the ten commandments are referenced at some point in Leviticus 19, more than any other chapter of Torah. It's not a perfect fit, but then I don't think it was meant to be either (as will be explained further). The division of the first half of the columns is indicated by a shift from "I am the LORD your God" to "I am the LORD." In the second half, this distinction becomes meaningless--instead we see that there are word parallels between the second half of the columns and their respective columns in the first half. In the middle of these columns are verses 19-25--a seeming anomaly amongst the order we have just defined. Again, for more details on how this structure is formed, I recommend taking a look at Moshe Kline's articles above.
So, what is the author of Leviticus trying to do here? I see an obvious connection to the stone tablets in this passage. If we follow Moshe Kline's line of thinking and see Leviticus 19 as representing the Ark of the Covenant, this would make perfect sense--the ten commandments were contained within the ark. On the other hand, we don't see a literal repetition of the ten here, or even a one-to-one correlation. Just a strong reference. It's as if the commandments were--broken. Secondly, not all of the rules here reflect the general all-encompassing nature of the ten. Many of these commandments take a much more specific, practical role. If we go back to when the ten commandments were given, I think we'll find two key events that help explain what's happening here.
In Exodus 20, immediately after God finishes giving the ten commandments, the people cry out for an intermediary. They don't want to hear God's voice anymore. So, Moses takes the position of intermediary and relates the commands of God to the people. It's at this point that the commandments begin to take a very down to earth nature (slavery, social justice, etc.), quite a jump from the loftiness of the ten. The people of Israel had just admitted they were human. Therefore they needed a law for humans. Not angels.
Jump forward a bit to Exodus 32, and the people of Israel take another fall--the golden calf. Idolatry destroys the relationship Israel had just formed with their Redeemer. Moses comes down from the mountain and shatters the stone tablets. Unlike the divinely carved tablets Moses just broke, the next pair would have to be carved out by human hands. Tradition has it that the golden calf was also the reason for the necessity of the Tabernacle. At the very least, we see a change in the way the Tabernacle is described. Before 32, God starts with the Ark and the Table and the Menorah before discussing the outer layers. But, after 32, this order is reversed. The outside is placed before the heart.
When we come to Leviticus, this pattern shows itself again. Here we have the ten commandments, but not the lofty ones that God spoke from the mountain. No, these are the down to earth commands that we humans need with only a spark of the original glory left intact. We also see that the commandments are broken. Right across the middle of the columns, a totally unrelated piece of text is inserted, breaking the flow, creating a picture of broken tablets. Why is this done here? Because this is Leviticus, the book about how to approach God in all His holiness. About the Tabernacle, something that came about as a direct result of the golden calf. You see, the Tabernacle became an intermediary, an encasing around the holiness of God. Similarly, Leviticus is structured as an encasing around the ten commandments spoken by the voice of God. Only after you peel back layers of clean/unclean and holiness codes can you come to the heart of the matter. A broken set of tablets.
We still have one more question to answer, and I believe it will tie the rest of this together and answer the problem of a broken relationship. What is this passage that breaks up the two tablets in Leviticus 19?
In this one section we have three separate commandments. One is about not mixing various things (distinguishing or "judging"). Two is about a specific case of broken relationship, atonement, and forgiveness. Three is about something forbidden becoming holy and then fruitful.
Justice.
Mercy.
Redemption.
These are at the heart of the ten commandments.
You see, the book of Leviticus is not just some set of random archaic rules. It is a system put in place because of our sin to bring us back into relationship with God. It is a schoolmaster set out to teach us to distinguish clean and unclean, right and wrong, leading us toward the heart of the ten commandments--the heart of the Father. It teaches us to crucify our own sinful desire, our animal nature, in favor of a higher standard.
But it also teaches us about God's mercy, His forgiveness, His patience. We broke faith, but rather than giving up on us, God came down to our level and gave us what we needed as human beings. He taught us righteousness on our level and provided atonement.
Together, mercy and justice intertwine to bring us to redemption. This is the intersection between heaven and earth, between the holy and the profane. It is where the world is renewed and darkness becomes light. Our broken relationship is restored completely as we are transformed into the image of our Creator, so that one day holiness will not be something we strive to do but who we are.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Horizons
It's been a year and a half since I moved out on my own and started my job with the weather service (see Chapter the Next). Most everything is unpacked by now. A lot has happened in the last year in a half. Doors have been opened. Seeds have begun to sprout.
--Kingdom
During the Days of Awe just over a year ago, God finally gave me words to a vision that had been churning in my mind for some time. He touched my heart during an Air1 concert as I was reminded that all God's children are made for dancing. This is the Hope of the Kingdom.
--What we were created for
As we entered last spring, I shared some of my piano playing and expressed how much God's gift of writing means to me. These are some of the talents God has given me. By summer, God had opened up the door for me to write for a Messianic youth magazine called HarvestMag. It is so amazing to be a part of something bigger than myself.
--Israel
Meanwhile, God planted a seed in my heart, a desire to visit Israel. To step out and walk on water, not knowing what I would find there, but trusting Him to show me. And He did. It was in the Promised Land that my Father shared His heart with me for His people and His land. I grew in my relationship with Him as I learned just a little bit about what it means to be a man after God's own heart.
--Family
I came back home in time for Sukkot. And there I met a girl. Long story short, she swept me off my feet and I asked her to marry me. She said yes.
________________________________________
Horizons
So much has unfolded in the last year and a half. The beginnings of dreams being fulfilled. A deepening relationship with my heavenly Father in ways I could never have imagined. Meeting my bride to be, Brittany.
Coming to the top of the horizon, I stand. Beyond this veil lie adventures known only to God. It's a new journey as I take the vision that God has put in my heart and walk forward with it hand in hand with my beloved. I don't know what lies ahead, but I look forward full of hope, knowing Who is leading us and with whom I am blessed to share this life.
Thank you, Father, for all you have done for me. So much more than I have ever deserved. Thank you for blessing me in my desires and dreams. Thank you for sharing your heart with me. And thank you for bringing to me a friend and companion with whom to share this unfolding story you are writing on our hearts.
--Kingdom
During the Days of Awe just over a year ago, God finally gave me words to a vision that had been churning in my mind for some time. He touched my heart during an Air1 concert as I was reminded that all God's children are made for dancing. This is the Hope of the Kingdom.
--What we were created for
As we entered last spring, I shared some of my piano playing and expressed how much God's gift of writing means to me. These are some of the talents God has given me. By summer, God had opened up the door for me to write for a Messianic youth magazine called HarvestMag. It is so amazing to be a part of something bigger than myself.
--Israel
Meanwhile, God planted a seed in my heart, a desire to visit Israel. To step out and walk on water, not knowing what I would find there, but trusting Him to show me. And He did. It was in the Promised Land that my Father shared His heart with me for His people and His land. I grew in my relationship with Him as I learned just a little bit about what it means to be a man after God's own heart.
--Family
I came back home in time for Sukkot. And there I met a girl. Long story short, she swept me off my feet and I asked her to marry me. She said yes.
________________________________________
Horizons
So much has unfolded in the last year and a half. The beginnings of dreams being fulfilled. A deepening relationship with my heavenly Father in ways I could never have imagined. Meeting my bride to be, Brittany.
Coming to the top of the horizon, I stand. Beyond this veil lie adventures known only to God. It's a new journey as I take the vision that God has put in my heart and walk forward with it hand in hand with my beloved. I don't know what lies ahead, but I look forward full of hope, knowing Who is leading us and with whom I am blessed to share this life.
Thank you, Father, for all you have done for me. So much more than I have ever deserved. Thank you for blessing me in my desires and dreams. Thank you for sharing your heart with me. And thank you for bringing to me a friend and companion with whom to share this unfolding story you are writing on our hearts.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Building My Own Kingdom
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”
-- Genesis 11:4
When you search the internet for advice on making it as a writer, one of the things that will come up again and again and again is the importance of building your platform. Finding an audience. Making a name for yourself. I can feel the pull of these deeply ingrained values within me--the desire to build my own kingdom.
I have to pause to ask, What does the Bible say about this? It's easy to jump to one side or the other either embracing our culture because it's "common sense" or totally rejecting it because it "clearly contradicts" Scripture. But what does the Bible actually say? Here's a few things I found--feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Do not hide what God has given you
When God approached Moses and told him to go speak to Pharaoh, Moses tried humility. It earned him a healthy rebuke. "Who made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" (Exo. 4:11).
I put this principle first because all too often when we think of humility, we think of diminishing ourselves and our talents, not realizing that by doing so we are diminishing our Creator. He has given each of us talents for a reason. Not to be buried beneath a veil of false humility, but to be used according to His purpose to further His Kingdom. When God gives you a task, it is not right for you to say no. Rather, acknowledge your dependence on Him to complete the task, and do so with all faithfulness and love. Which brings me to principle #2:
Acknowledge the Creator in all things
Proverbs 3:1-10 is one of my favorite passages about leaning on God and walking in humility. In verse 6 we are told "In all your ways acknowledge Him" followed by the promise "and He will make straight your paths." Give credit where credit is due. Acknowledge the one who created your hands, who taught you wisdom and placed in your heart a song.
Again, in Deuteronomy 8, as God promises blessing, He warns us against arrogantly saying to ourselves that our own hand brought us this prosperity. The truth is that it all comes from God. The command is simple: "And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you" (Deut. 8:10).
Accept everything in God's timing
John tells us that "a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). This is something we must come to terms with--it is not within our power to determine our success. God sets the seasons, both for increase and decrease.
A few verses down, you may recognize the verse "He must increase, but I must decrease." I want to point out that this is not an absolute statement as many have taken it--before this time John's ministry increased. Rather, it is about recognizing that everything has its place in time and we are each only one small part of God's greater plan.
Lift up others
Philippians 2:3-4 instructs us to count others more significant than ourselves. We must realize that this is not a one-man show. We are each like one instrument in an orchestra or one page in a book. If all we do is toot our own horn, the result is nothing but noise (similarly, if we refuse to play at all, the song is left lacking). Watching the Conductor, each of us accents each other in season, together producing one magnificent song.
I love Romans 12 in this. It begins by instructing us not to be conformed to this world, realizing that the culture around us does not define us. Instead we must walk in God's instructions, according to the role assigned to each of us. And then he goes on to instruct us on how to work together as one body--loving one another, outdoing each other in showing honor, contributing to the needs of the saints, being one in spirit when our brother rejoices or when he weeps, living peaceably with all.
As mentioned earlier, all of this is for the purpose of furthering His Kingdom. In Matthew 6, Yeshua tells us to store up our treasure in heaven. A little further down, He explains this by telling us not to worry about the things that the world worries about. God will provide. Rather our focus should be on seeking the Kingdom of God.
"Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established." -- Proverbs 16:3
Remember, your Father delights in you
Lest this become a burdensome list of rules, I want to remind you of this simple truth: God loves you. Isaiah 62 compares the Lord's delight in His people to that of a bride and bridegroom--"as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you."
This is not about trying to be super-righteous or becoming a better rule follower. There's pride in that too. This about your relationship with your Father. It's about not letting anything come between you and Him. It's not about putting down yourself, but about lifting up others as our Father has done for us. It's about pursuing our Father's heart as He pursues ours.
"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." -- Psalms 37:4
-- Genesis 11:4
When you search the internet for advice on making it as a writer, one of the things that will come up again and again and again is the importance of building your platform. Finding an audience. Making a name for yourself. I can feel the pull of these deeply ingrained values within me--the desire to build my own kingdom.
I have to pause to ask, What does the Bible say about this? It's easy to jump to one side or the other either embracing our culture because it's "common sense" or totally rejecting it because it "clearly contradicts" Scripture. But what does the Bible actually say? Here's a few things I found--feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Do not hide what God has given you
When God approached Moses and told him to go speak to Pharaoh, Moses tried humility. It earned him a healthy rebuke. "Who made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" (Exo. 4:11).
I put this principle first because all too often when we think of humility, we think of diminishing ourselves and our talents, not realizing that by doing so we are diminishing our Creator. He has given each of us talents for a reason. Not to be buried beneath a veil of false humility, but to be used according to His purpose to further His Kingdom. When God gives you a task, it is not right for you to say no. Rather, acknowledge your dependence on Him to complete the task, and do so with all faithfulness and love. Which brings me to principle #2:
Acknowledge the Creator in all things
Proverbs 3:1-10 is one of my favorite passages about leaning on God and walking in humility. In verse 6 we are told "In all your ways acknowledge Him" followed by the promise "and He will make straight your paths." Give credit where credit is due. Acknowledge the one who created your hands, who taught you wisdom and placed in your heart a song.
Again, in Deuteronomy 8, as God promises blessing, He warns us against arrogantly saying to ourselves that our own hand brought us this prosperity. The truth is that it all comes from God. The command is simple: "And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you" (Deut. 8:10).
Accept everything in God's timing
John tells us that "a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). This is something we must come to terms with--it is not within our power to determine our success. God sets the seasons, both for increase and decrease.
A few verses down, you may recognize the verse "He must increase, but I must decrease." I want to point out that this is not an absolute statement as many have taken it--before this time John's ministry increased. Rather, it is about recognizing that everything has its place in time and we are each only one small part of God's greater plan.
Philippians 2:3-4 instructs us to count others more significant than ourselves. We must realize that this is not a one-man show. We are each like one instrument in an orchestra or one page in a book. If all we do is toot our own horn, the result is nothing but noise (similarly, if we refuse to play at all, the song is left lacking). Watching the Conductor, each of us accents each other in season, together producing one magnificent song.
I love Romans 12 in this. It begins by instructing us not to be conformed to this world, realizing that the culture around us does not define us. Instead we must walk in God's instructions, according to the role assigned to each of us. And then he goes on to instruct us on how to work together as one body--loving one another, outdoing each other in showing honor, contributing to the needs of the saints, being one in spirit when our brother rejoices or when he weeps, living peaceably with all.
Set your eyes on His Kingdom
As mentioned earlier, all of this is for the purpose of furthering His Kingdom. In Matthew 6, Yeshua tells us to store up our treasure in heaven. A little further down, He explains this by telling us not to worry about the things that the world worries about. God will provide. Rather our focus should be on seeking the Kingdom of God.
"Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established." -- Proverbs 16:3
Remember, your Father delights in you
Lest this become a burdensome list of rules, I want to remind you of this simple truth: God loves you. Isaiah 62 compares the Lord's delight in His people to that of a bride and bridegroom--"as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you."
This is not about trying to be super-righteous or becoming a better rule follower. There's pride in that too. This about your relationship with your Father. It's about not letting anything come between you and Him. It's not about putting down yourself, but about lifting up others as our Father has done for us. It's about pursuing our Father's heart as He pursues ours.
"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." -- Psalms 37:4
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Reflections on NaNo
I know what you're thinking. "It's still November! How can you be writing reflections on NaNo when it isn't even over yet?" (for those of you wondering what in the world I am talking about, click here). The fact is that I finished my novel. Sure, it only came up to 39,868 words. But you know what? That's 39,868 words more than I would have had otherwise.
Besides, 50,000 words isn't really the point of NaNo. Gasp! You mean the whole goal they have you set up is actually just a motivation tool to spur you on through the journey and that the journey is where the real reward is? You know, I couldn't have said it better myself =P. Some arbitrary number of words isn't the point. Writing is. Pursuing your dream of writing a story is. Becoming a better writer and growing as a person is. And having fun. There's that too.
One of the things I did this year is I invited several friends and family to read along as I write. That was an amazing experience. I would always get so excited every time I opened up my email to find "New Comment on your Google Document" or when I would get a Skype message from someone saying they loved such and such part. And then there was poking fun at my own writing in front of everybody. "Hair like a squirrel's tail"?!? Yes, that line actually made it in there. Have no idea where it came from, but it's there.
It's exciting to see how far I've come in my writing since last year. My novel last year came to a screeching halt at 10,000 words. That was the first time. I then rewrote the whole thing in first person, giving me closer to 22,000 words. The rest was filler. Bonus scenes, alternate timeline, character interviews...18,000 words of filler. This year? After going back and deleting all the impromptu discussions with characters and complaining to myself, I still have 36,000 words of solid content. First time. Detail is still very much my weak point, but I would call that an accomplishment.
I experimented with a slightly different kind of story this year--more of an adventure story. At least the first half. The second half was more like my first novel with everything taking place in the same location. The first half had slightly better planning than the second half, but went much better. Dividing the story into distinct and well-defined chapters proved very effective. With the second half, I fell back onto my old habit of trying to stretch what is more of a single scene idea into a full chapter--not so effective.
A few other areas I noticed that still need improvement: Character descriptions. I am absolutely terrible with these. Getting my characters into trouble. I cringe every time one of my characters is about to do something they know is wrong (with the exception of villains--I love my villains). I've noticed that I tend to put a lot more attention on action, on what the characters are doing, than on description and making use of the five senses. This could use a bit more balance. That being said, there are a few descriptions I am particularly proud of. And I very much enjoy weaving symbolism and spiritual lessons into my stories.
The question is now, Where to go from here?
I now have two stories drafted. Both are still in need of some revision. But as I go about writing and rewriting these stories, I need to remember to stay true to myself as an author. I'm not writing to please anybody else--I'm writing because I have a story that needs to be told. And if that story happens to touch another life, all the better. But the most important thing right now is to tell the story faithfully.
Besides, 50,000 words isn't really the point of NaNo. Gasp! You mean the whole goal they have you set up is actually just a motivation tool to spur you on through the journey and that the journey is where the real reward is? You know, I couldn't have said it better myself =P. Some arbitrary number of words isn't the point. Writing is. Pursuing your dream of writing a story is. Becoming a better writer and growing as a person is. And having fun. There's that too.
One of the things I did this year is I invited several friends and family to read along as I write. That was an amazing experience. I would always get so excited every time I opened up my email to find "New Comment on your Google Document" or when I would get a Skype message from someone saying they loved such and such part. And then there was poking fun at my own writing in front of everybody. "Hair like a squirrel's tail"?!? Yes, that line actually made it in there. Have no idea where it came from, but it's there.
It's exciting to see how far I've come in my writing since last year. My novel last year came to a screeching halt at 10,000 words. That was the first time. I then rewrote the whole thing in first person, giving me closer to 22,000 words. The rest was filler. Bonus scenes, alternate timeline, character interviews...18,000 words of filler. This year? After going back and deleting all the impromptu discussions with characters and complaining to myself, I still have 36,000 words of solid content. First time. Detail is still very much my weak point, but I would call that an accomplishment.
I experimented with a slightly different kind of story this year--more of an adventure story. At least the first half. The second half was more like my first novel with everything taking place in the same location. The first half had slightly better planning than the second half, but went much better. Dividing the story into distinct and well-defined chapters proved very effective. With the second half, I fell back onto my old habit of trying to stretch what is more of a single scene idea into a full chapter--not so effective.
A few other areas I noticed that still need improvement: Character descriptions. I am absolutely terrible with these. Getting my characters into trouble. I cringe every time one of my characters is about to do something they know is wrong (with the exception of villains--I love my villains). I've noticed that I tend to put a lot more attention on action, on what the characters are doing, than on description and making use of the five senses. This could use a bit more balance. That being said, there are a few descriptions I am particularly proud of. And I very much enjoy weaving symbolism and spiritual lessons into my stories.
The question is now, Where to go from here?
I now have two stories drafted. Both are still in need of some revision. But as I go about writing and rewriting these stories, I need to remember to stay true to myself as an author. I'm not writing to please anybody else--I'm writing because I have a story that needs to be told. And if that story happens to touch another life, all the better. But the most important thing right now is to tell the story faithfully.
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