To say it’s been a difficult, troubling season for all of us would be an understatement. More than 100,000 loved ones dead in the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States alone and many more affected in a multitude of ways. Sheltering at home. Businesses closed. Schools closed. Church buildings closed. Jobs lost. The world has a dystopian, nightmarish quality some days. Then came the horror of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police. Along with the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. The anguish and responses across the country over such naked, ugly racism rearing its head over and over again overwhelms many of us. I make my living with words. Yet I find myself at a loss for them in the face of the unfathomable events of the past few months.
Like many others, I imagine like those reading this article, I’m trying to figure out not only where our nation goes from here, but where do I go as an individual who can’t and won’t ignore the travesties perpetuated against my fellow citizens? How can it be business as usual? How can I write Amish romances and romantic suspense novels when my country implodes? How can I hawk books? Do they matter? Is it disrespectful? Should I be on my soapbox on social media with so many others? Do my words make a difference?
Someone on the news the other day said, “All we can do is pray.” I wanted to weep. It is what we must do, not a poor substitute for action. Prayer is the most important tool, the most important weapon, we have in this season of our lives and this era in our country. Before we do anything else, we pray for our leaders. We pray for family members who see their loved one’s death aired over and over again on national media outlets. Pray for an end to racism, bigotry, misogyny, and hate in any form. Pray we do better, that we are better human beings. All of us, you and me, and the other guy. No one has exclusive access to the high ground these days. Let’s all go there together.
I pray for discernment, for words, for God’s direction. My writing is my ministry. I write stories to illustrate the truths of our Christian faith. My writing offers entertainment, hope, a sweet, if momentary, release. Faith is meant to be shared. My stories are my testimony.
I choose to do my work and pray it pleases God. That it gives readers a moment of repose and maybe even the spark that they need to continue to believe and hope and find joy. Joy is everywhere, even now. In our children and grandchildren, in the hummingbirds outside my breakfast nook window, and in sharing our faith with others.
Please see past what might seem like shameless promotion to the desire of my heart: to be an ambassador for Christ through Christian worldview stories.
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from readers. Godspeed, my friends.
I think your advice is the best I have heard.
We are all thinking what is it going to take to straighten this world out.
Everyone wants to try and fix it. But your answer is the best. Pray
We use prayer as last resort, when it should be first .
Thanks for reminding me.
Love your books
Patty
Thanks, Patty! So glad you like my books!
Love you Kelly! Love your heart! Praying along side you!
Margie
Love you too, Margie. Prayer warriors!
This was very well written. I have been feeling the same. But our ministry as Christian writers is to continue spreading the hope and joy we have in Him even in the midst of unthinkable tragedies.
Thanks, Katelyn. You’re so right!
My dear Kelly, may God continue to smile on your work and the joy it brings to all of us. I am glad and blessed that you so willingly share your talent.
I live about an hour from Lancaster, PA – my go-to place when my soul needs to be soothed, when I am down about something, or as a special treat. When my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer, our lives were upended. Life as we knew it ceased to exist. From our schedules, to what we could and could not do, even to what we ate. There was no time to escape to my special place and be renewed. Reading one of your novels was the respite I needed and longed for. Every time I had a few minutes when I could read, it was taking a vacation in my head! My beloved husband will be gone 11 years on June 22. From those long days of caregiving until now, I have read no other type of books but Amish fiction. Your work, your words, your abilities, got me through the darkest time of my life. You have no idea how I clung to that life preserver. Please don’t ever think what you do is unimportant or trivial in light of world events. God gave you this talent, at this time, precisely so you can be His instrument of hope and peace. And I am so very grateful! Much love, Kate Kleinert
Awww, Kate, thank you so much for sharing your heart with me. I’m sorry you weathered such difficult times and for your loss. I’m glad that my books could give you those times of respite when you were care giving, and that they give you pleasure even now. God bless you!
Kelly, you and others who made similar observations, are absolutely right. Prayer should never be our last resort. It should be our first. My pastor, when I was a young guy, made this point, too. He said we all act as if it was our job, our responsibility to fix this problem or that one. And, when we can’t then we finally turn to God. NO he said. We need to first turn to God in prayer, bring our request to Him, and ask that He use us in His way to accomplish His will.
I’m a great fan of your suspense books. Looking forward to the next one.
May God hold you always in the grip of His grace,
Tim
Thanks, Tim. You’re so right. We think we’re self-sufficient and society teaches us to be that way. We want independence when we need to be dependent on God.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the suspense books!