In the Hands of the Master

Published April, 2000

My son walked out the door early this week with note cards in hand, still rehearsing his speech on his walk to school.  He nodded goodbye, as I gave him a quick pat.

Even after twenty-five years, I can clearly recall my own cold, clammy hands on the day I gave my first high school speech.  Standing at the podium in front of my classmates, I felt terror strike every bone of my body.  I was up front, alone, in a quiet room, staring into 25 individual faces staring back at me.  They waited.

Worse yet, five students and the teacher each held a sharpened pencil and Evaluation Form.  If they couldn’t hear me, they would check a box.  There were boxes for eye contact, information, diction, and more, with a large space at the bottom for COMMENTS.  I could never have imagined that I would want to experience this fright again.

But, today as a writer, I willingly submit my work to the Evaluation Form, a formal process of critiquing.  It still strikes terror into my heart, even though my “classmates” today are friends and fellow writers.  I turn over pages I have created from blood, sweat, and tears, and I sit as they quietly read and mark.  Will they laugh at the right spots?  Or yawn?

Lately, in the silence, as we work to critique one another’s work, I am struck by the wondrous process of critiquing we Christians are involved in as we turn our lives over to God.  I begin to understand God’s process with me.

Trust in the Lord with al your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

• Seeking Perfection – When we critique writing, we imply we are moving toward perfection.  But it’s important to remember that perfection is a goal.  No written piece will ever be perfect.

Likewise, for us as Christians, there is only one living perfection, Jesus.  Bringing Christ into our lives as Lord requires a special understanding of our place on earth.  While seeking to follow in His way, we must always acknowledge how vast our imperfection is and how merciful God is to love us just as we are.  A Christian’s Critique is the process of submitting to a greater loving wisdom than we alone can ever possess.

• Beginning in the Heart – The best writing begins in the heart.  When a writer knows her heart and what she desires to say, she gains a focus.  She knows where she is aiming and is able to gauge success when readers discuss her work.

Likewise, Christians must know our own hearts.  We must know we are fully committed and devoted to Christ.  Lip service defeats the critique of the Master.  He is unable to help us follow the Christian way because our heart is not set on keeping to His path. God knows our hearts.  He knows when we are fully involved in seeking His Critique.

• Living Within the “Rules” — Writers must know the absolutes of writing, then use them with subtlety and imagination.  We have a creative “free will” to say, tell, and inspire.  But if we ignore the basic rules of good communication, we will leave our readers confused and frustrated.

As Christians, we must acknowledge God’s rules as absolute guidelines for our lives.  As part of this acknowledgement, we must commit ourselves to God’s Word, reading and studying it daily.  We will never understand God’s Critique if we don’t understand the rules He applies to us in our Christian lives.

• Born of our Uniqueness – Once the rules of language and communication are understood, a good writer must be an individual.  She must speak with her own voice for her own message in her own way.  Critiquing is not intended to make her write “just like” the authors on the best seller lists.

God is a wonderful Creator, the master of diversity.  He creates no clones.  As we listen for His guidance, we must rest in the assurance that His rules and guidelines will allow us to express the love of Jesus in exciting and new ways.  As God prunes a weakness from our life, He will encourage a special talent or strength.

• Humble our Hearts – Even in the midst of the critique process, when a writer has handed her story to her friends, and when she has assured them, “Yes, tell me what you think,”—even then, a writer must have a humble heart that willingly submits to the instruction and observations of others.

God gives us His Word and His many servants, pastors, friends, and the church.  But God’s Critique requires a submissive spirit.  When we hear His instruction, when we realize He calls us to change, we must submit to His wisdom with a glad heart.

• Praying for Guidance  — Writers must listen to the critique, but not every suggestion merits a change in the writer’s work.  Critiquing becomes a delicate balance of truth and discernment.  Some suggestions are easy to understand.  Others require a writer to seek further.

As we listen for God’s critique, open and willing to submit, Christians must beware.  Many speak “for” God, but not all are “of” God.  We must discern the truth.  Submitting to God is not a passive decision.  It requires the utmost in diligence from us.  And when we are in doubt, we must actively bend our knees in prayer.

• Listening in Silence  — In the midst of prayer, both writer and people must submit their efforts and understandings to the greater wisdom of God.  We must listen.  This is perhaps the hardest task in the writer’s and Christian life.  Listening requires concentration, patience, rest, and quiet.  Have we made moments in our busy days for listening?

• Acting in Courage  — In the midst — Once wisdom makes itself known, we must act.  A writer can put her story in the drawer out of fear of failure, but she dishonors her God-given talents and the efforts of her critique friends.

Likewise, we can find many reasons for following God almost all the way.  Oftentimes God’s Critique is going to place uncomfortable demands on us.  He’s going to push and stretch us. Our future growth as Christians must be built on our daily actions, submitted to God’s loving critique.  Actions are our gifts to God, a demonstration of our faithfulness and love.

Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  (Proverbs 9:9-10 NIV)

When our hearts are open, we know that critiquing is not a process of finding fault.  It is a process of formation, of growth.  As either writer or Christian, I am growing when I am a willing participant.  What a praise to know God’s love is concerned with the minute details of our life.  May we rejoice as He moves, shapes, and guides us on the Way!