The Seminary Student Writes

One of my new textbook's titles sums up what I fear most about this seminary journey, The Seminary Student Writes.  Of course, I write all the time.  I write letters, emails, articles for the church newsletter, documents for any number of work-related needs, etc.  Those types of writing are VERY different from academic writing that is now expected of me in seminary.  I will be writing a lot of papers - long papers- from reflections on topics to summaries of bodies of work to genuine full-blown research papers.  It has been decades since I have written academically, and even then I'm not convinced I did it well.

My earliest memory of writing is when we wrote book reports in Elementary School.  I loved to read, but hated taking time from reading to write.  In high school, I did well on writing assignments, and I truly don't recall what I felt about writing at that point.  I do, however, remember my first writing assignment in college.  I took English 11 the summer before my Freshman year.  I turned in my very first paper, and it was returned the next day with a large red "F" on the top.  My first "F" on a paper, ever.  You see, I had a comma splice in my paper, and that was an immediate "F."  I had no clue what a comma splice was, or where it might be in my paper.  I only knew I was devastated.  As you may be able to tell, I have perhaps not yet recovered.  Ever since that paper, I have questioned my ability as a writer, and certainly in the technical aspects of writing.

Even though people often tell me they enjoy reading what I write, I know that I have a long way to go.  As I mentioned before, the looming challenge is that academic writing is a completely different beast than a newsletter article or a blog.  I genuinely want to improve.  I know the importance of good writing in any career, but perhaps especially in the one towards which I am working.  Yet that red letter lurks in the back of my brain - a pain I do not want to endure again.

This week of orientation provides us with two mini courses:  one on Speaking the Word, and one on Writing.  I have the opportunity to learn from professionals how to improve these two aspects of my life and ministry, and for that I am beyond grateful.  I relish this opportunity.  Even with that desire, the announcement of a book report due on Wednesday (one page, no less) struck fear in my heart, literally making it beat faster.  God sent me here, He will provide the support and ability to succeed here.  I know this.  The next week and coming semester will provide me plenty of opportunity to face these fears head on.  As Deborah Core suggests in the textbook I mentioned at the beginning, "I suggest that we begin to think about writing from a religious viewpoint and open up this part of our intellectual (or even emotional) lives to the transforming power of God.  Let's explore the idea that the communicating, writing part of our lives - regardless of our past experiences - can be enriched, blessed and used by God."  May it be so.  May it be so.