EDEN-APPLE-HEART: My Heart (Part 3 of 3)
This is the final post in a three-part series. If you missed the first two parts, check out My Eden and My Apple first.This has been a fun series of posts -- both to write my story and to hear yours. I was so inspired by all the feedback from Part 2, and I hope you all will boldly share your stories in the comments of this final post as well.Love your stories.So, for the last time, let me hand it off to my musically illustrious blogging companion and let him introduce this final "heart-stirring" topic:
Brandon's heart is predictable, and I suppose mine is as well.My heart is writing.
When I think back to my Edenesque upbringing in eastern Pennsylvania, there was a particular reason why I enjoyed escaping to the Methodist church parking lot time and time again. My story-driven mind was always tabulating tales of thrills and glory. Riding my bike to that church with my siblings and cousin -- or even alone -- enabled me to act out some of my fantastic fictional creations.Back at my house, I was often writing. I got my first journal when I was 7 or 8 years old and I would fill up many notebooks with my stories. Even wrote three "books" as a kid, distributing them to my extended family. Remember my inaugural "Creator" post, when I blogged about my magnum opus, Invisble Jonny (misspelling intentionally unintentional)? Good times.I've been writing for almost as long as I can remember, and yet I entered college wholly ignorant of pursuing writing academically. I actually started out college as a math major firmly set on never taking another English or writing class again. I just didn't like writing or reading for grades.I'm so thankful God opened the eyes of my heart by the end of that first year; three years later, I graduated with an A.B. in English.So here I am, for better or worse. I feel in my bones that God's given me this calling to write in whatever form He'd have me do so, and I'm thankful for the encouragement and support from countless family members and friends regarding this assertion.I love to write about the silly things (I mean, hello), but I really love to write about the serious stuff of life that deeply matters.One of my first committed steps into writing came with crafting my first novel over two years ago -- an arduous journey that still continues today. This story borrows many elements from my own life, and I long for the day when you all may read it.I love how Brandon Heath sums up this series, regarding his heart for music: "I didn't have a Plan B. I would argue [my music] is Plan A. Cause God is tapped in to this. He loves our heart. And a lot of times, I believe we're afraid to follow this."I agree. I was totally afraid to follow my heart transitioning from high school to college. Writing? I mean, yeah, I love it, but how can I make a living by writing? How will that pay the rent, fill my stomach? Am I even that good?Five years later, I don't pretend to live doubt-free. I still wonder where my heart for writing will lead me. But I no longer wonder what's in my heart. And, like Brandon, I truly feel that God is tapped into this.Five years later, I'm still alive, still paying rent and grocery bills.And still writing.What about you? What is your heart? Is it a hobby, a career, a people group, a place? Is God tapped into it, or are you afraid to let God have control?
