In 2009, I went heavy on the resolutions. I was going to take my familiarity of Spanish into fluency. I was going to learn to play the guitar. I was going to finish one of the 6 unfinished books in my writing files. I was going to upgrade my proficiency in photography. I was going to get our family finances in better order. I was going to deeply strengthen my walk with God. I was…well, I was going to do lots of things. By March, I was in the weeds, lost in the woods and failing miserably at all pursuits. And that’s how I became another statistic in the New Year’s Resolution game. I am hopeful that 2010 will be different. Mostly because I am focusing my efforts this year. My only resolution this year is to FEED THE LAKE.

I recently mentioned that I finally heeded some insightful advice and picked up a copy of Madeleine L’Engle’s book “Walking on Water” which basically talks about being a Christian AND an artist. It’s so very fitting that the woman who first inspired me to love reading when I happened upon her book, “A Wrinkle in Time” at a book fair in elementary school, would be the same to provide me sage insight just when I was all but paralyzed in my search for the meaning of life and how to use my talents in the way God would have me.

There is a section in Walking on Water where she talks about how every writer is contributing to this massive lake of art. How some writers will flow rivers of content, while others might just grace the body of water with a few drops. In the end, all writers have the same goal: feeding the lake. Creating more today than existed yesterday. She also talks about serving your work, dying to your own motives, letting the work guide you. She also talks of discipline, of commitment. I’ve been missing all those things, so today I resolve to feed the lake daily. To be singularly focused on generating more today than existed yesterday. To serve the work and let it guide me. I hope that not only will this relieve my recent bout of writer’s block but also that it will provide clearer direction down the path God would have me travel, the one that leads closer to Him.

The biggest challenge will be not to get sidetracked. So I’ve been praying for some help in keeping my focus. God does have a sense of humor. Less than 24 hours after I made the internal decision to feed the lake every day, and to focus on writing in 2010, my wife gave me a very thoughtful Christmas present. A new guitar. I pulled it from the box, strummed the strings a few times, fiddled with the tuning (like I could really tune it) and then hooked up the shoulder strap. And then I grabbed it by the shoulder strap, which popped out and sent the guitar crashing to the hardwood floor where the neck splintered. Got the message, thanks. Focus on the writing.

FEED THE LAKE. 

I’m not taking it to mean that I can’t replace the guitar and casually learn to play it this year. But I did hear loud and clear that I am not to let it, or any of my other 500 hobbies and interests, be a distraction, or even worse, an excuse, for not following through.