In the course of teaching high school English, I sometimes met substitute teachers who lived interesting lives outside the classroom. Meryl, a substitute in a history class, was an aspiring writer who was substituting until she could make a living at her craft.

Meryl often spoke to me about having “writer’s block.” She said that she had developed a strong technique and style and could write very well. She was confident that it would never cause her to have writer’s block, but she was at a standstill because she had no actual material, no subject. She mentioned this to me a few times,and I had the uneasy feeling that she was somehow hoping I might supply her with material, or at least show her where to find it, and she could then embrace her career as a writer. As I had not considered any kind of writing as a career, I had no subjects to suggest to her, except to say, “Why don’t you write about something you know?” It didn’t help.

For a long time I puzzled over her dilemma. I couldn’t understand having skills that could find no subject. It seemed to me that everyone’s life is rich in subjects, but few have the skills to express them.

“Why would you run, my son, seeing you have no message?” (2 Samuel 18:22) Another man had already been sent with news of the battle against Absalom when he tried to usurp David, his own father’s throne. Even so, Ahimaaz insisted on running to bring the news to David that Absalom had been defeated. He didn’t dare tell David that his son was dead. Ahimaaz wanted the glory of reporting a great victory, but couldn’t face the sadness that David would feel.

Why do we run when we have no message? Why do we chatter and talk, but have no message? Where do we find a message?

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. . . Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” (Proverbs 3:13-18)

I never knew if Meryl ever found her message, and became a writer; but I did think that she had had the cart before the horse, and that each of us must find the message of our life in the Book that our Creator has given us.

Love in Him,

Prue