Finish the work!

Her earnest words jolted me out of a lethargic state, but she didn’t know it, for she was talking about own writing, not about mine:  “I don’t want it to be another thing I start and don’t finish.”

A former student, now a friend and fellow writer, nudged me out of a labyrinth I was wandering around in, not really looking for the end, just taking my time and enjoying the scenery as I sauntered to and fro a maze of procrastination. Stalling really. I prefer to write, not edit. To revise, not punctuate. To create, not airbrush the type. I love to write; the editing process is tedious. And my eyes are older now. Trifocal lenses and all. One nearsighted contact, one farsighted contact, and pink, dollar store reading glasses as well.   

I have a book to finish editing, and I was being lazy about editing it because I had other ideas for more books! The English teacher's curse is to correct and criticize (constructively, of course) and edit until sometimes the desire to finish is stalled. Clarity at all cost! Cut ruthlessly! Strunk and White lives! Editing with no end in sight isn’t motivational; creating anew is more enjoyable.

“I don’t want it to be another thing I start and don’t finish.” Her words were the Minotaur I needed to chase me back to the project at hand.

Ouch!  But thanks, Lacy Elick. Back to editing I go.

And please, anyone reading this blog, pray for me as I finish editing my book!  An English teacher is never satisfied. But “I don’t want it to be another thing I start and don’t finish.”

Jesus finished the work God gave him to do. Finishing is a good goal to keep in mind. And not just for a book.