Occasionally, I’m asked, “That piece you write for the Branson Globe, where do you get the ideas for it?” After a couple such questions just last week, I’ve actually given that some extra thought.
A few years back, I was dealing with a lot of grief and confusion. My sister had died unexpectedly, leaving me to navigate elderly parent care decisions on my own instead of sharing responsibility with a sibling. Living out in the country, it was difficult to get involved in church except for Sunday mornings, so I began getting up early in the morning to spend time reading and studying the Bible; I used (and still do) the First5 app from Proverbs 31 Ministries and found community in their online groups. I’ve always been a note-taker and journal writer, so I soon had notebooks full of thoughts inspired by those Bible studies.
That habit got me through some rough years, and it continues to be daily sustenance now. Let’s face it, this world is broken; our hope is in our faith in God. But, even without serious problems and tough circumstances, our busy-ness can make us feel distant from that hope or miss God’s purposes for us. For example, when my kids were young, I did some writing for Christian publications, but then, life happened. When I quit working full time to help my dad more, though, God reminded me I am uniquely created to share what He has done for me, using the writing space to do my part in the Great Commission.
The more I wrote, the more observant I became of problems around me. Although I sure can’t fix all of them, I have a responsibility to obey when the Holy Spirit does prompt me to help, and to do that, I must know what God’s Word says (1 Peter 3:15). So, more note-taking! Loss and overwhelm can happen to anyone, and time in God’s Word is the best resource, along with knowing someone else understands.
The connection with the Globe came during the Covid shutdowns and restrictions of 2020, when I wondered if readers unable to attend church might be encouraged by a devotional column. The name, “Reflections,” is inspired by my own need to reflect and meditate on God’s Word instead of simply checking “read Bible” off my to-do list.
Going through my dad’s things after his passing, I found that both of my parents marked up and wore out several Bibles and took copious notes. Some of their thoughts, plus recollections of their faithful lives, find their way into these columns, and I hope to leave that legacy for my own kids and grandchildren.
So, there is no short answer to the question, other than that ideas come from time spent reading God’s Word, asking Him how I should respond, and writing down thoughts He gives! I suspect something similar is true for our other awesome column writers; and I hope what we share is not only helpful, but also inspires others to read His Word and write down their thoughts. You never know how God might want to use those notes.
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