More Than Writing

I write most days. I pour time and effort into my books. The craft and making a living off of it is important to me.

But there are more important things.

I’ve started training to become a CASA. That’s a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Essentially, I am learning how to advocate for children that are involved in abuse or neglect cases. I’ll be making statements in court about the child, making recommendations to the judge. This is a huge responsibility.

This last week I also took suicide prevention training. I’m not an expert. I’m not a psychologist. But now, I’m essentially able to perform CPR in a suicide case until experts come. (This is also why I didn’t post a blog update last week; I was out of town and the internet connection was… sketchy.)

This week I spoke at a retreat about having depression and how to deal with it, even after treatment.

These aren’t the only things more important than writing. I have a wife that’s amazing. I have children that are dear to me. My faith is more important.

In other words… writing is important, but it’s not all I am.

There’s a line in Encanto that breaks me every time I hear it. “You are more than just your gift.” I don’t know about you, but so often I define myself by what I do. I’m a writer! Are the books selling? Did I write enough today? What has to get done? And if any of those answers are “no,” I despair.

But I am not my gift. There is so much more important.

Does that mean I should give up writing? Of course not! Writing is also a gift that I get to participate in.

But it is not all I am. There is so much more.

Your gifts? Yeah, they’re important. But you are not your gift. There is so much more. Let me encourage you to look beyond your gifts. See what else there is. Savor it all… not just your gift.