As a reluctant writer, I discovered what a tiny bit of influence felt like, and I have struggled ever since to walk the fine line between influence and obscurity.
Let me be clear — I do not believe I have any real influence over anyone in my life. Just ask my two children, who would tell you their mother is a total pushover. But I have no shortage of thoughts and opinions, and since I can be sarcastic, blunt, and opinionated when I speak, I have found that writing is a far more effective way of getting my views across.
That said, writing about faith, Christian living, and self-promotion has never sat well with me. I understand that in today’s publishing world, platform-building is a must — no writer can ignore it completely. Like it or not, it exists, and we have to play along.
But that is not to say one cannot have a voice and still cultivate a rich life in the margins. If I end up writing for an audience of five, I am still a writer, and people still read my opinions. I simply need to learn contentment and ask myself whether a life of quiet obscurity is enough. If my answer is no, then perhaps I have a great deal more business to do with God.
Here is a snippet from an essay I wrote two years ago for Christianity Today
“God calls us to a life of knowing him and walking with him, and we must cultivate that first. If a large audience is something God wants for us, he can bring it to pass. We need not waste our time striving for prominence and platform. We can grow where we are planted, grow in the knowledge of God, and practice his presence in the mundane. The true measure of success is not a follower count or sales record but our depth of fidelity to God.”
Read the rest of the article at Is God Calling Me to Obscurity of Influence?
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