All of My Days

College students often interview me about creative writing as part of their class project. I make time for these interviews because, not only do I learn more about the young, I also learn more about myself.

My last interview was by someone called Raff. He had the usual questions: “Where do you get your ideas?” “How long have you been writing?” “What is your advice to beginning writers?”

But one question that made me stutter with the answer I thought had, but not really, was this: “Aside from writing, reading, teaching, and, as a break from the three, solving crossword puzzles, what else do you do?”

Aren’t those enough? were the words I halted in my mind.

His was a legitimate question, usually from young people. To them, writing is a breeze, reading takes only a fraction of one’s time, and teaching is a cinch (students tune off in class anyway, so hours of preparation do not count).

“I do nothing else,” I finally answer Raff. “These three tasks take all of my time, all of my soul, all of me. In fact, I wish there were more than 24 hours in one day so I could do more of the same.”

My reply made Randy stutter, too, confused about what to say next. The words he halted in his mind must have been, That’s all you do?! What a boring life!

My answer would have been, That’s all I do and it is a charmed life.

Then I’d hum the praise song:

All of my days, I will speak of Your goodness.

All of my days I will speak of Your grace.

And while humming, I’d change the lyrics:

All of my days I will write, read, and teach of your goodness. 

All of my days I will write, read, and teach of you grace.

“Why?” Randy would then ask.

The actual interview ended five paragraphs ago. Yet I continue to play the hypothetical Q and A in my mind because when I contemplate God’s grace, I see no ending. My life on earth will someday end, so all of my days. I will continue to do so because there is an unwritable, unreadable, and unteachable joy in God’s presence.

“You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

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