Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday December 14, 2007

This will be my last daily until the first of 2008. I join the madding crowd in the insane Christmas rush as this is the price a non-Cromwellian pastor must pay. I assure that I take this pause in hopes of relaxing the bow in order to strengthen it.

I read something about the noted author of grand Western tales, the late Louis L'Amour that I want to share with you as my temporary parting shot. Mr. L'Amour has over 230 million books in print around the world. Every book he had written over the years is still in print and he wrote more than 100. At my current remuneration that many books sold would produce $2300 in royalties. Somehow I think Louis did much better.

During an interview L'Amour was asked the secret to his being able to write so many books so well. He responded:

"Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on."

I read this statement 20 years ago and when I came across it again, the juices began to flow. Since reading this statement in the distant past, I have applied the principle to writing, praying, exercise, sermon preparation and even speaking on a familiar subject. You have to turn the faucet on for something to flow forth. Earl Nightingale said that he would often write a page or two knowing they would hit the round file, in order to get the flow going. Oh, sure, every now and then you are bursting with ideas and just can't wait to hit the keyboard and get your masterpiece on the screen. The more you write the rarer these moments become.

As a pastor I often hear the complaint, "Pastor Lilly, I just do not feel like praying!" The fact is I often do not feel like praying! But that is just the time when we must pray and when we do pray in spite of this feeling the fog lifts and the prayer breaks through and I know that Jesus meant it when he said, "Men ought always to pray." He taught that we need the benefit of prayer whether we feel like praying or not.

Using the same procedure I have on more occasions than I wish to admit, picked up the Bible and started to read when I would have rather been watching the Colts. In spite of my mental preoccupation some of my very best ideas from the Bible have come to me during times when as I started out, I did not feel like reading.

The principle is touted by all successful people regardless of the profession or art: Do the thing and the inspiration will come.

Here is a good quote to get the juices going for the New Year from the late great American Cowboy:

"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning." Louis L'Amour

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit

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