Sometimes the advice for writers, especially for non-fiction, is “Write what you know.”
In my experience, the mantra is “Write about what you want to know.” Writing is creative exploring. The desire to know, to clarify, to crystallize the confusing into something useful is what pulls us forward.
I suspect that creating music, sculpture, art of all kinds are also creative explorations of the edge of what we don’t know.
Marriage and parenting are likewise always at the edge of what we don’t know. That’s why you must build marriages and family relationships on revealed truth, reliable foundations.
Formal speaking is different. You must understand what your audience needs, then develop what you will say and how you’ll organize and deliver the content. What pulls speakers forward is the strong desire to share with others.
I have had three different bosses who needed to “think out loud” in front of an audience to know their own mind. It took me some time to discern – differently for each of them – when they were thinking out loud and when they were giving me specific direction or establishing policy. If you’re one of these people, it’s a great gift to your listeners to clearly advertise when you are thinking aloud!
Back to creative exploration…
I had two conversations recently with people who portray themselves as victims. They didn’t use that word, but their behavior tells me that’s what they believe. They deserve more, better, different, and it’s “other people” who are blocking them, denying them, undercutting them, misunderstanding their abilities.
I’m wondering today if, perhaps, they’re at the uncomfortable edge of creative exploration, and just hope someone else will take the next steps for them. What they want (or think they deserve) is on the far side of that uncomfortable edge. Perhaps they assume that this uncomfortable edge is somehow controlled by others. I could be wrong.
One part of it, for sure, is that other people make decisions that affect us. The people who make those decisions generally have the power to make those decisions. You might have a different idea, but you don’t have the authority to make that decision, and you need to make your peace with this.
There are loads of things which didn’t go like I wanted them to. I’ve been passed by multiple times for promotions and opportunities I wanted. Though I’ve made progress on the maturity scale, I still find myself jealous of others. I’m deeply blessed (and certainly beyond what I know!) yet struggle with comparisons. I would have been just like Peter, comparing myself to another disciple. Like everyone else, I’ve paid a price for decisions made by elite leaders who didn’t have skin in the game and suffered no consequences. This is a busted-up world run badly by fallen people. Every day is a fresh opportunity to work within our sphere of influence, focus most intently on things within our control, and remind ourselves God’s sovereign power and love for us.
