Psalm 139:16
“…..all the days ordained for me were written in your book”.
In my life, I have ventured many times into the realm of creative writing. I have written a few scripts, most of which are really bad and should never see the light of day but I’ve written a couple scripts recently, that are so much better. I still have a few more drafts to go but I’m way more proud of these than the junk I used to write. What I’ve learned over the years between my first screenplay to my most recent, is that like building a house, if you don’t lay the foundation first, you’re story will be a complete disaster. You have to learn to appreciate the process of writing. Just because you finish a first draft does not mean you’re done. Most successful scripts take up to five to ten drafts. With my first script, I just wrote it down without taking the time to do the research and character development first. I was lazy and the end result was a lousy unstructured plot with stale dialogue, and flat characters. But I find when I do the groundwork first, take the time to work on character development, my screenplay just flows so much better and the characters are so much deeper and more authentic. It’s so apparent when you watch a great movie. You just know it. The structure is strong, the dialogue is rich, and the characters are well thought out and have many layers. It creates an awarding experience for the audience. However, when a screenplay was just quickly put together, these movies usually find themselves straight to Netflix and forgotten pretty quickly. What I’ve learned is that a screenwriter that really cares about the success of the story, will take the time to care about the details. To a really great writer, the smallest character in the movie is as important as the main character. Every line, and every scene is equally important. You know sometimes I think about how awesome it is that the Bible calls our God an author. God, the author of our lives cares so much about us, that He took the time to think us up. God is the God of detail. Just look at all creation. Everything has a purpose in this life, from the largest mountain to the tiniest ant. He took His time creating the world. Just read about how detailed He gets on instructing the Israelites in building the temple. And of course, He took great thought into creating us. Scripture tells us, He even knows the number of hairs on our head. “He knitted us together in the secret place”. “We are fearfully and wonderfully made”. God doesn’t create junk. He doesn’t rush, He processes things and in the end, His work is found to be of excellence. If you ever feel you are insignificant, think again. You’re a character in His book. The Author of the book of life, took the time to create you. You may not think you have a big part to play but you do. Remember, if God cares about a little sparrow, why would He not care about little us? God is in the details, there are no insignificant characters and without you, there can be no story.
Psalm 139:13-16
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
Luke 12:7
7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.