Need an Idea? - Peter A. Black

Ideas. Ideas are everything. At least, when you need one, they are. When you have a dilemma, such as when the car breaks down

in the middle of nowhere in the boonies, or somewhere like the middle of an intersection during rush-hour. That’s how I introduced a newspaper article several years ago.



In that piece I wrote about a writer’s need for getting ideas. Generally it’s not too difficult, considering there’s lots happening in the world around us at home and abroad to engage the mind and stir the emotions – whether prompting admiration and appreciation, or provoking angst and anger.


My friend Jan has several website blogs, and sometimes has guest bloggers who write articles for her. These blogs are of an inspirational nature, one of them being dedicated to the subject of prayer (I’ve provided several items for it). On another, she intended posting an item every day, but found that with maintaining these sites and caring for responsibilities in life, it was demanding more time and energy than she felt able to give. Yet, she also felt she was to keep it up.


And so, she prayed, and came up with . . . yes, an idea. She would do a “daily five” – that is, she would write for five minutes on whatever topic came to mind. Some friends were invited to guest-write for it on the same basis. Spelling and grammar didn’t have to be perfect, but of course, it must be done in five minutes.


Her focus still is on the inspirational and spiritual dimension of life, and so far it is working well – a great idea. People are involved and others are visiting the site and reading the blogs, and now Jan has a little more time to be a grandma and tend her gardens, whatever.


The inventor of Dyson vacuum cleaners is portrayed on television commercials informing the world that he looked closely at the basic design of vacuum cleaners of the past 100 years and figured how they could be radically improved. Now his revolutionary designs are

changing that industry.


The late Steve Jobs, founder of Apple computers and all things “i” – iPod, iPhone and iPad, et cetera, was a gifted individual with great imagination and business acumen, and developed revolutionary ideas in the field of cyber-technology, personal computing and portable communication applications. And that story still goes on.


Are you stuck for an idea in your life at the present time? I’m sure many of us would like to hit on an idea that would make us a fortune. But life is often more basic than that.


Is yours a need for working through a difficult situation or relationship with a person at work, or dealing with a troublesome teenager at home, or navigating heaving marital seas, or maybe solving a tricky repair problem around the home, and you’ve no idea how to go about it?


Perhaps you’ve exhausted ideas for finding employment, or are concerned with something deeper, more personal than any of these – you sense your need is spiritual; something’s not sitting right, and you know you need God.


You need an idea . . . where to turn, of whom to turn to? Coming to God in prayer right where you are, humbly depending on His grace, is a great place to start. Ask for wisdom – His idea.


You may need to take thoughtful, careful and deliberate steps when the idea comes.


~~+~~

For further reflection: James 1:5; Proverbs 15:22; Proverbs 16:3


Peter A. Black writes a weekly inspirational column in The Watford Guide-Advocate, and is author of the children's / family book "Parables from the Pond" (Word Alive Press ISBN 1897373-21-X)

Grieving Eden - Grove

Writer's get the same questions asked many times. "What do you write?" (not always an easy question - I write non-fiction and fiction), "Are you published", and "Where do you get your ideas?"

To the last question, it's safe to say, "Everywhere." And I think it's true. Ideas are, literally everywhere. But where do the big ideas come from? The ones that haunt you and taunt you until you write them? The ones that follow you in the mall, trip you in the hall, and elbow you in the lineup?

Let's be real, few ideas do this. Good thing, too.

But let's keep facing it, and realise each of us as at least one big idea that won't go away. (Frankly, I believe most of us have several over time) Why won't it go away? It's not supposed to. God put it there.

Here's a nugget I've learned (am still learning, will continue to learn) about ideas: They grow.

For years I've had an idea about a non-fiction book about relationships. When I got the idea I was just smart enough to realize it was a good one. I dug in straight away, writing. I wrote and wrote. But it all came out Greek. Nothing made sense. I had thousands of words, but I hadn't said anything.

What to do?

Let it grow. It's been years now, since I had that good idea. It's stewing away. When will it be done? I don't know. All I really have now is just the idea. Here it is:

Several years ago, I took a theology class at a small Bible college in Southern Ontario. I found I had an affinity for the subject, and delved in with great delight and interest. I was often in the midst of classroom discussions, and took joy in sharing ideas about God's word.

One day, the lecture was on the doctrine of sin. The focus was on the first chapters of Genesis and the fall of humanity. Of course, as a long time Christian, I had heard and read these passages many times. But this time, it was different. As I listened, I allowed my imagination to wander into the garden, and walk where Adam and Eve had trod, hear what their ears had heard. A feeling soon overtook me. I sensed God was showing me something; guiding my imagination.

The awe I had felt soon turned to deep sorrow. Unable to withstand the moment, I put my head on my desk and cried. I was about to dash for the door when I heard the professor call my name. "Are you crying?"

I swallowed my embarrassment, and looked up. "Yes."

He looked at me, mystified. "What's wrong?"

Forty sets of eyes turned to gaze at me.

"I'm crying," I stammered. "Because of all we've lost. We once knew the company of God. He walked with us as a friend. We loved Him purely, without fear or obstacle." I glanced at my professor. "I'm grieving all I lost in the fall. I'm grieving Eden."

*******

It's that experience that has spurred the idea for a book. And it's all inside of me. The ideas, the words, the point, the lessons, the thesis, the everything.

But, when I go to write it down I'm still not saying anything.

The deep ideas, the important ones, the ones that won't go away, are worth waiting for.

Bonnie Grove is the author of the upcoming book Your Best You: Discover and Develop the Strengths God Gave You (Beacon Hill Press. Release date, March 1, 2009). Her debut novel Talking to the Dead is due for release summer, 2009, from David C. Cook.