“I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say ‘he feels deeply, he feels tenderly.’”

“An artist needn’t be a clergyman or a churchwarden, but he certainly must have a warm heart for his fellow men.”

“The emotions are sometimes so strong that I work without knowing it. The strokes come like speech.”

Excerpt from Vincent’s letter to brother Theo:

“And God sees the trouble and the sorrow and He can help in spite of all. The faith in God is firm in me - it is no imagination, no idle faith - but it is so, it is true, there is a God Who is alive and He is with our parents and His eye is also upon us, and I am sure He plans our life and we do not quite belong to ourselves as it were - and this God is no other than Christ of Whom we read in our Bible and Whose word and history is also deep in our heart.”

Letter from Vincent to Theo, Amsterdan, May 30, 1877

“The sheer exhaustion she conveyed in the act of stirring her tea made it look like she was mixing cement.” ~ Martha Manning, psychotherapist (referring to her grandmother’s depression)

I don’t think about it much. Depression, that is. The moods come, and thankfully, they go. Except for the depression that hospitalized me. But that was years ago, long before I understood my own brain. For clinical depression there is now fairly good medication available. Other things help too, like understanding friends. Hopefully my experiences have wrought in me a deeper compassion for others. I hope it’s made a difference in my writing, too.

Last time I admitted depression, a friend said she just didn’t get it. I’m glad she’s never needed antidepressants. But something she said revealed a smidgeon of pride. “I just never give in to depression,” she said. “Guess I’ve never understood chronic victim mentality.” Ouch.

Well, much has been written on brain illness that would straighten out the least of this friend’s misconceptions, but some people would rather read the funnies. It’s useless to explain the function of neurons and neurotransmitters to people whose brain never falters. Note to self: Don’t look to misguided folks for understanding. It won’t happen.

Ironically, writing that ministers to me comes from those who have wrestled with darkness and come out on the other side. These writers speak to my heart. They’re compassionate, genuine, and not afraid to be transparent. They don’t shame people for the way they’re wired, nor for the way they’ve experienced life.

When I haven’t walked a mile in someone’s flip-flops, I really can’t afford to judge. So I treat people’s melancholia with care. When that black bile or brain-freeze descends on someone I know, I want to be the friend that God sends. I want to fan the flame of all His gifts, and love my friends in the most consistent ways I know how. It’s not enough to shrug and say, “I just don’t get it,” and walk away.

Melancholy souls were given a gift. Because of misunderstandings we’ve suffered, we recognize a timely word spoken in season. We cherish it. We cling to it. We never hesitate to offer a word or kindness to another soul in need, and trust God will most ably speak through us.

But a final thought lingers. If compassion is putting ourselves in someone else’s flip-flops long enough to feel their pain, surely melancholia taught us how.

“The human heart, at whatever age, opens only to the heart that opens in return.” ~ Maria Edgeworth

At first glance, this quote rang true. Then a Scripture came to mind: “We love because He first loved us.” ~ 1 John 4:19

Our hearts respond to Him, but even so, it’s grace that draws us heavenward. That’s what I love to write about.

What about you?

Author Tricia Goyer shared two pearls of wisdom with her son, a recent homeschool graduate:

1. “Cory you’ve worked hard and you’ve excelled in your studies, but for your future my advice is not to work harder. Or even to work smarter. But to abide in Christ. Even machines can be trained to do work, but only men and women - guided by the Holy Spirit - can bear fruit that lasts for eternity.”

….and….

2. “If at first you don’t succeed, go back and do it like your mother taught you.”

“Tune our hearts to sing your grace.” ~ C.S. Lewis

“Cease to inquire whatever the future has in store, and take as a gift whatever the day brings forth.” ~ Horace

“Be like the bird that, halting on its flight awhile on the boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings.” ~ Victor Hugo

“I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” ~ Martin Luther

“The greatest gift we can give one another is rapt attention to one another’s existence.” ~ Sue Atchley Ebaugh

As I perused my lovely Mother’s Day gifts this morning, each one reflected the specialness of the giver and warmed my heart. But more than gifts or praises, we mothers desire something more precious than store-bought sentiment - the gift of time. I love my children, but not for the gifts they bring. The gifts are a sweet representation of their love, but their presence in my life means more than I can describe.

On that thought, God nudges me. Is He trying to tell me something? After all, writers busy themselves with many a project, trying to honor Him with thoughtful, well-put words. In the process, we sometimes forget what He desires most. As much as words and stories bless His heart, He just wants us. If we but spend precious time with Him, the words will come.

A good week to concentrate on the Giver, and not so much the gifts. Let us honor God with all we write, but remember that good writing flows from a bountiful relationship with Him.

He is the Author and Perfector of our faith, amen?

“I have learned, on my journeys, that if I let a day go by without writing, I grow uneasy. Two days and I am in tremor. Three and I suspect lunacy. Four and I might as well be a hog, suffering in the flux in a wallow. An hour’s writing is tonic.” ~ Ray Bradbury

So many times we hear folks say, “I’d love to write but I don’t feel inspired.” The inspiration comes as we write, does it not?

One friend laments the time issue. According to her, writing is a waste unless she’s able to devote whole days to the process. Most of us learn to lay claim to smaller blocks of time or else we’ll never write. When I worked full-time (with way too much overtime) for 6 years, I still managed to blog and submit occasional articles. Not saying it’s easy. I’m just saying…

Another misconception: “If the writing is too hard, it’s not meant to be.” Not necessarily. Some will abandon a writing project once it involves discomfort. The reasoning? Too much blood, sweat, and tears. To quit is always a personal choice, but maybe we should count the cost. Because most writing in general includes grueling phases we’d rather not experience. But they pass. It’s good to remember that if the Lord calls us to write something down, we can absolutely trust His enablement.

Writing is not easy. And sometimes our misconceptions are mere excuses. Like a friend reminded me the other day, we’re either called or we’re crazy. I had to laugh. Yes, but moving past a few misconceptions will get us over the hump.

What writing have you put off for far too long? Why? I’d love to hear about it.

“Let all my words sink deep into your own heart first; listen to them carefully for yourself. Then, afterward, go to your people.” ~ Ezekiel 3:10-11, TLB

We write our experiences down too quickly sometimes. Certain events need to simmer. Particularly when we’ve been hurt.

Before we gain a right perspective, we need the Lord’s insight. Otherwise, our words aren’t ready. We need a certain healing before we tackle strong topics, or else we’re merely grinding an ax.

Yes, it’s still true - everything in life is fodder for the writer.

But all in good time.

“A word in season, how good it is!” ~Proverbs 15:23

“We ought to begin each day asking God to give us high expectations for every human encounter we experience. We should pray for alertness to the special opportunities God brings our way to give or receive encouragement through conversation. The words we hear and the words we speak often carry the seeds of life.” ~ M. Blaine Smith