Would you believe that I haven’t read a novel in months?’
As a professed bookworm, I’ve been sticking to my preferred genre for a while – namely non fiction – mostly memoir, devotional reflections and poetry.
My soul is craving some escapism, so I’ve chosen to lose myself in Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’. For. The. First. Time… gulp!
Crazy, or what? Although I have enjoyed reading Solzhenitsyn and Dostoevsky in the past.
I began ‘War and Peace’ after the TV series had commenced. My reading speed is slow because I’m more used to the dip, sip, savour or pause, ponder, pray way of digesting books rather than feasting on fiction.
[bctt tweet=”Life often feels like war and peace combined as flesh and spirit are in combat with one another.”]
Books I read invariably reveal some commonality in my own life, enlarge understanding and inform my writing.
Here, universal themes of love, hate, faith, conflict, power, politics, war and peace are already evident, as is seeing how my mind is also peopled with various ‘characters’.
Because you don’t have to be a fiction writer to have varying voices vying for attention within.
For example, some days:
- The poet in me pleads for prominence
- The shy child abuse survivor seeks to be seen
- The chronically sick person wants her weak voice to be heard
- The closed captive seeks to shed her carapace
- The open, encouraging me endeavours to encourage and support
- The mature (wise?) woman desires to share insights
- The contemplative has a thoughtful offering to bring
These ‘people’ are all aspects of my character and life experience. Maybe you can see something of yourself here too?
We have to find a way to live in harmony and balance with our disparate selves…
To read the rest of this post, please come on over and join me here at the ‘More than Writers’ blog where I’m sharing my monthly Association of Christian Writers (ACW) contribution today. Thank you! 🙂
Words of Joy 
I’ve been escaping into Amish fiction lately. I love their simple way of life and the way they support each other. I especially love the stories where characters struggle emotionally and how God helps them through it.
Thank you for this encouraging post, Joy. Life certainly is a battle between flesh and spirit. I love your helpful Rs. Blessings and hugs to you!
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That sounds interesting, Trudy. I’ve never read any Amish fiction, although I have watched TV programmes about their lifestyle and some of it looks attractive as a supportive community way of life. I’m glad you found something to help you in this post, my friend. We can all relate to the spiritual battle we are in because it’s such a large part of Christian experience. It’s good to have one another’s company, prayers and support as we journey together. Blessings and hugs to you too!
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I love how you see yourself, Joy. I admit, I’m not one who spends much time on self-reflection. Or on self care. God is teaching me how important both of these things truly are. Thank you for your words, have a blessed week, friend.
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Thank you for your kind words, June. I often think the view I have of myself became splintered during and after the mental health breakdown I experienced in the past. It had a way of compartmentalising the varied aspects of ‘before’ and ‘after’. For you to see something worthwhile in my self-reflection helps me to do so too, although I tend to think that too much introspection can be daunting and discouraging! On bad days I feel like the disparate parts of myself will stay disconnected somehow. But I trust God is weaving them all together by His grace. He makes us complete and whole as we place our lives in His hands and continue to surrender to Him each day. I’m always blessed by your visits and shared insights, my friend! 🙂 x
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