Wednesday's Writing on Writing

To create, we writers need full tanks, and I'm not talking about only writing resources. I'm talking about our emotional and spiritual well-being. For our physical health, any exercise is better than nothing.

The same is true with spiritual exercise; do whatever it takes to jump start your spiritual life — prayer, Bible reading, reflection, whatever. Don't feel like a failure if you haven't worked your way up to an hour a day. Anything is better than nothing — even slowly building those muscles.

Some people lament that they tried to read their Bible every day or to read it through in a year and got off track at some point. Others have said they resolved to read some sort of inspirational or self-help book every day, only to give up when they missed a day or two.

That thinking is flawed, of course. It's perfectionistic and will doom you to failure. Where is it written that if you ever miss, you have to quit?

I used to be a victim of such thinking. For decades I carried an extra hundred pounds (yes, that's me in both pictures), and every few years I would take a serious run at losing it. I'd eat right and start walking every day, only to quit when I missed once after seventy-one straight days.

 In my mind I had fallen off the wagon. I don't know where such craziness comes from. Did my missing one day negate all I had accomplished for those many weeks?

 I have now maintained a 135-pound weight loss for eight years by keeping track of everything I eat, working out, and staying vigilant.

Part of the secret to this success is allowing myself to fail occasionally. Do I exceed my calorie counts sometimes? Miss a workout? Sure. I'm human. And I don't have to be perfect to succeed.

The same is true for developing our inner lives. Feed yours. And when you forget to pray or read your Bible, miss church, or get too busy or too lazy, just start over the next day. Cook your soul a small meal and get back on track.

You'll find it easier to write for other's souls when your own is healthy.