Writing is a constant correction of what I wrote. A constant refinement. And at times it can be overwhelming. You pour your heart, mind, and even soul into a passage, and then the editor rips it to shreds. Or the audience critiques it–you feel–unfairly. While I want what I write to be read, I’m more interested in writing. (Which reminds me–I need to find an editor.) I want to produce. I want to leave a footprint. Videos on YouTube just won’t cut it–even though the digital age is only going to become more and more prevalent. The greatest minds–not that I can even touch the hem of the garment–have always been writers. The most influential people have always been writers. They’ve had their precious manuscripts cut to shreds on the editor’s floor. That’s ok. Not every idea is worth getting out. But you’ll never know until you write and produce. I’ve read several wonderful biographies about US presidents. All of them that I’ve read so far were voracious readers and prolific writers. Great preachers and theologians of the past were no different.
What has happened? We’ve put such value on instant communication that we’ve failed to cultivate a love and desire to be a man of letters. We have works of these men–to whatever value or not you think we should ascribe is entirely missing the point–because they were thinkers. They were writers. They were producers. Of real content. Not a 20-second video you hope goes viral. God is not looking for viral, He’s searching for faithful. Just keep writing, reading, studying, influencing, soul-winning, and preaching, all in the relative obscurity of the corner that Christ allows you to occupy. Ditch the seduction of virality–I’ll coin it if it’s not a word. There are 8 billion people. According to SocialPilot, there are about 350 million photos are uploaded on Facebook daily, and 1 billion stories are shared every day. About 4.75 billion items are shared by Facebook users each day. You’re not going viral organically unless you have an incredibly evocative story or popular social cause. Sure, you can mess with the algorithm, but it’s all just white noise at this point. So forget being viral for millions, even thousands. Just decide to be who God made you to be and apply yourself in that for days, weeks, months, years, and yes, even decades. The AI age is really just beginning. We have no idea where it will take us. We have no idea the ramifications of the social media age, and nothing to say of the AI age. It’s here to stay. We can’t be ignorant of that. But at the same time, I will not succumb to the pressure of the easy dopamine hit in a viral video. Eventually, we see the futility and vapid nature of all that is technology, and the real influence is left to those who have simply been steady and faithful at their craft and calling for a lifetime. It’s ok to erase the last sentence you wrote. Don’t feel bad about reworking the entire storyboard just don’t spend your time second-guessing yourself. If you have something to say, say it. The way you say it can only improve with time and constant, relentless practice. Even when no one’s watching, waiting, or caring.