Word Weld

I am a writer, not because I have published a book (though in fact I have published a book). I’m not a writer because I say I’m a writer, since I can just as easily say I’m a paperclip, or a woman, or God, and those statements would be inaccurate as all those who know me will attest.

I’m a writer because God made me one. How do I know? Well, I’ve tried writing a few times, and for whatever reason I seem to have a knack for it. Not merely because I say I have a knack for it, but because I have been told. God gives us all unique abilities. And I pluralize “abilities” because we have many things we’re good at, only not all the things we’re good at are useful. For instance, in addition to my talent for writing, I also have a talent for picking the perfect pair of glasses for any face type. No, I’m not making that one up; I actually can determine exactly what glasses look best for any given person, it’s been proven. Needless to say, I don’t get to use that one much.

So, you may ask, what am I doing here on WordPress? To be honest, I don’t know. I have been writing statuses on Facebook which from time-to-time are rather long and contain a lot of thoughts on various topics, mostly on Christianity, or what’s going on in society, and it was suggested that rather than clog up Facebook with long posts (you know, the one’s you can’t just click the “See More” button to read, but you have to click “Continue Reading” and it annoyingly takes you away from the feed), I should just write a blog.

Now, there are lots of blogs out there, as I fully realize. There are as many opinions floating around on the internet as there are people, and possibly more. So, I don’t expect to garner a great following when there are greater bloggers out there like Matt Walsh, who are speaking the truth also. But God does not give gifts carelessly or randomly, and He doesn’t give them just to one person or even a hundred people and say to Himself, “Well, that’s enough, an even hundred bloggers telling the truth from a hundred different points-of-view should get the job done!” Regardless of what other people are doing or are called to do, we need to each follow what we believe is our calling. So I’ll try not to look around and see all the other folks also trying to use their gifts for writing for God, lest I be scolded with Peter, “…what is that to thee? Follow thou me.”

So I’m going to keep my eyes on Jesus as best I can, and let Him use the words on this little free website as He sees fit. If they reach thousands, like other, better blogs and articles in this medium, I’ll keep my eyes on Him. And if I don’t get anyone more than my wife (or no one) reading, I shall keep writing. I’ve found that I can’t not write. The best gifts are like that. It’s something you so enjoy doing that you can’t quit, even if you feel discouraged or want to quit. It is both a servant and a master.

I’ve called my blog Word Weld because I’m not clever at titles. It takes me literally years to come up with titles for my novels, and you can picture my frustration with things like chapter titles, or email subjects… I’m a title-cripple to be sure. But Word Weld seemed fitting, since welding is something I see on a regular basis on my job. Welding is the fusing of metals together at the molecular level by use of heat generated by an electric current. Welding creates a fundamental change in the materials used and sometimes creates something new in between. Welds done properly are strong enough to hold up anything from playground equipment to skyscrapers and vast cargo ships. Poorly executed welds damage their constituent parts and endanger lives in the process. Words are the same way:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” – Proverbs 18:21

The combination of words is an art and a science. Like skilled welders, writers like John Bunyan, C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, and Ravi Zacharias fuse words together to produce powerful imagery, as vivid as any painting. Meanwhile, songwriters and poets, like Issac Watts, Charles Wesley, and Francis Thompson fused words together to move our hearts and emotions, reaching deep within us with an inexorable hand and drawing out against our will the most potent and meaningful of our responses. Indeed, it was not their hand, I think, but God’s. Nor do I compare myself to them. I will offer no competition whatsoever to them. Instead, as Jesus stated by implication, I will follow the path set before me, and rank nothing but God’s pleasure with my individual work. I promise those who read this blog a few things, which I set forth as rules for my own self:

I will write the truth, gently but plainly.

I will write carefully, and factually.

I will try to write things I won’t regret later.

I will try to bless and encourage those who may see my words, and not tear down or insult them, even if I believe them wrong.

How often will I post a blog? Who knows, but I will use this site for my own thoughts, to share what I believe God would have me to share, whether I speak among the din of the masses or amid the dark echoes of obscurity. I may also post short stories and poems, in addition to my articles.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

– Proverbs 25:11