Writer’s Block, Nostalgia, and Distractions

Why is it that I’m having so much trouble with this novel? It may be simply because I want to get to the good part. But I don’t know. In any case, I am behind in my word-count goal. How’s that for a way to start the month off? I suppose it’s better now than later…but still…

I’m feeling strangely nostalgic right now. (I hate the word nostalgic, but right now it seems to fit.) My mind keeps wandering back to Idaho, to last school year, last summer, Othello, et cetera, et cetera. (Latin for ‘et cetera’ is ‘et ceterae’ [pronounced et ket*air*eye], did you know that? Sorry, random bit of Latin knowledge…) Anyway. It’s a little bit depressing, for whatever reason. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that life has been going by so fast. I know it has some to do with hurts that have occurred, but even the happy memories are strangely depressing right now. Maybe this will help me write from Jade’s point of view. But I kind of doubt it, since I have been attempting to write for sooooooo looooong now. I suppose I an just missing the simplicity of life as it was a long time ago, before I knew so much about this world. I’m not saying I know a lot, I’m just saying that my view on life has changed so much in the past 4-7 years.

Sometimes this world feels like a heavy burden to bear–when we don’t fit in, when someone we trusted has hurt us, when things just pile up. I’ve finally found myself again, but I don’t see the world the same way I used to. It is a big place. It’s a hurtful place. But it’s also a wonderful place.

1 John 2:15 says:

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Does this literally mean “do not love anything in the world”? No. What this verse is saying is that we should not love the evil and the “bad ways” of the world. We should be focusing on God and not letting our world’s negativity find favor with us. We can still enjoy this world, because God has provided it for us. But we should not love the world so much that God becomes unimportant in our lives. He is the one we should focus on, not things of this world.

Hebrews 3:1 says:

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Another verse relating to this is Matthew 6:21:

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Okay. I don’t know about all of you, but it’s hard for me to always live life completely for God. Other things can distract us. Activities that we do. That really cute guy/girl. Our looks. Music. Anything, good or bad, can become a distraction from God. Trust me here, I struggle with this as much as anyone. I’m not condemning anyone. This is something everyone has a problem with. Just like even the best foods for you can be poison if you have too much of it, even good things can be poison to us if we live for them instead of God.

I’m going to take this a step further. Philippians 4:8 says:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

The “young generation” right now has a lot of things to think that are not these things. Take the latest trends in music. It seems like almost every song you here at least mentions sex, drugs, or alcohol. I’m not saying that every song does. But so many popular songs of today seem to focus on the worldly aspects of this world. By listening to this stuff, aren’t we really just poisoning our minds? Many young adult books are the same way. And many of the most popular movies. As Christians, we need to be focusing on those things mentioned in the above verse.

So I challenge you, reader, evaluate your music/book/movie choices. Are these true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable? If not, does it still have a good message? Is it using this sort of thing to get a positive/Godly message across?

I’m leaving this up to you guys. I know I’m not the best example–I will admit that I listen to some Lady Gaga, and other music that I was just saying is negative. I’m not perfect. And it’s something that I am working on. But think about what you choose to expose yourself to in this world.

I came up with this after one of my friends said to me, “God has been convicting me of my music choices of late.” It really made me think. I struggle with this. A lot of people do!

I guess that’s all, it’s just something that’s been on my mind for a while now.

Over and out,

❤ Paperclip101

P.S. I wrote this a while ago but didn’t post it till today 🙂