JUST DO YOU

“That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being —Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” (Johns 4:23-24, The Message)

Once as an aspiring writer—still aspiring—a speaker set me free with the words, “just do you.” I struggled for years, not knowing what to write. After teaching Bible study for a long time, fiction seemed trite and unimportant, except it had been my go-to since childhood and probably contributed to my sanity more than anything else.

Those closest to me wonder about the sanity-part.

When I did decide on fiction, I didn’t know what genre to choose. So I went through the list. I don’t dislike Sci-fi, but not a huge fan either. Fantasy requires too much world-building. Much of Mystery/Suspense/Thriller involves guns and serial killers. Nope. Not there yet. No YA or children’s lit, although I enjoy it from time to time.

That left Romance. Who? Me? I have to admit, I didn’t have a high opinion of romance writing, but those are the only ideas that come together for me. The only books I’m able to write from start to finish are romances.

Then I realized that romance, along with a million other things, remains stereotyped and has a bad rap. Probably because there is a plethora of poorly written, bad stories out there.

But I write the kind of romance that I want to read. In other words, I “just do me.” Stories with truth infused through the pages. Light. Humorous. Fun.

If God is mainly interested in us being ourselves, and He is, then it’s perfectly acceptable for me to write romance. Especially since nothing else works.

On a larger scale, though, he wants me to “just do me” all the time. I don’t need to hide or put on a mask. I’m fine with the God who created the universe.

I check myself often to make sure what He says is fine … is fine with me.

By Mary Pat Johns

To leave a comment, please click on the title above, JUST DO YOU, and scroll down.  Thank you!

 

 

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Valerie Cullers
3 years ago

So good!

Patti Shene
3 years ago

Love this, Mary Pat. Reiterates the belief that I was born to write westerns! LOL! I have faith that God hard-wired some of His people to want to read them! If I could just get this current WIP finished, I might find out someday.

I am also a lover of the word “plethora”.

Gwendolyn Gage
3 years ago

Love this great advice, Mary Pat. I also struggled with choosing a genre. I love to read Fantasy, but world-building intimidates me, too. Thanks for this encouragement.

Amy Dohmen
3 years ago

Loved it! Thank you, Mary Pat. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of doing what will please the crowd. But God made us unique for a reason, and He will use us when we surrender to Him and live out the singular purpose for which He designed us 🙂

Kathy McKinsey
3 years ago

Very nice, Mary Pat. I also love the word plethora. I’m going to look for ways to use it.:)

Mary Pat Johns
3 years ago
Reply to  Dave

Hilarious as always. Plethora is one of those words I don’t have to work too hard to include–it just runs onto the page–.

Dave
Dave
3 years ago

Thanks, MP.
They wonder about my sanity, too.
But I’ll just do me.

PS – “Plethora.” So glad you got that in.

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