One among a whole host of nuggets of advice I received when becoming a Pastor was to pick up a hobby where you could tangibly see the results of your work. The advice is given in light of the 
truth that often the work of the Pastor is longsuffering work where the fruit of that work often remains hidden from the pastor’s eyes. If you work at a car manufacturing plant you get to see the car roll out the door. If you work in law enforcement, you have the satisfaction of seeing a criminal taken off the streets and put behind bars. If you are in construction, you literally get to drive right over your hardened work. Don’t get me wrong, There is much fruit worked by the Spirit worked through pastors but it is often hard to visibly discern.
I own a scroll saw and various pieces of wood stacked up because of this piece of advice. I have various pieces of stained glass laying around waiting to but cut and crafted. I carry my camera around to this end as well.
But it was only today that I realized that there is only one real hobby I keep up with that falls into line with this wisdom.
I craft words. I have a design in mind. I make the rough contours of that design in an initial draft. Then I go back and whittle away at the project to get it looking more like it did in the idealistic environment of mind. Once the shape looks right, I go back and seek to polish it. And then I get to do what I love most. I hit “publish.†And there it is, my work right before my eyes. And not only my eyes but other eyes.
You might think it odd that I call this my hobby and not my job. Word crafting is something I often bring to my tasks of sermon writing and the like, but I do not see it as essential to my work. In fact getting too crafty as a pastor can at times rob the Word of its raw power. Many times the Word needs to be spoken in all its simplicity. You never want your people to leave being in awe of your rhetorical skill but ignorant of the message. Sometimes word crafting can deliver the Word in a way that people retain forever. But word crafting must always remain a servant of the Word. The Gospel is not simply an occasion to word craft. That distinction is important and requires introspection and the honest counsel of close friends.
This blog is my studio. It is my workshop. It is my dark room. While the material is often about faith, here I do craft words. I seek here to teach, to comfort, and to question in a way that makes the servant named “word crafting†sweat with effort.
When you read, I appreciate it. When you comment, I truly value it. When you share my work with others, I am humbled.
I craft words. And now I get to hit publish and see my work. And it feels so good.
Excellent, Phil! I couldn’t have said it (or written it!) better myself. I think we are kindred spirits. I feel the exact same way. It’s a wonderful hobby, and, yes, it is different from writing for the “spoken word,” especially the Word of the Gospel. So thanks for reaffirming that this is a worthwhile thing to do.
I’ve been reading some of these for a little while now, but never thought about thanking you for your words of intuition regarding both scripture and faith. Very few have the ability to, as you say, hone their words so well, and even fewer can do so regarding their own faith, let alone piecing together thoughts that coherently tie to scripture. So, a sincere “thank you” from a man who likes your pertinent introspection and honest writing style. Well done, and God bless you!
I appreciate that Gretzky. Thanks!