by Natasha L. Kohlhoff Polak

Created on: April 19, 2008   Last Updated: April 21, 2008

Knowing how God looks at the craft of writing on a monetary basis and career is something that I have been struggling to understand. I have known from a very young age that the Lord wanted me to share stories with others. As a child, I would tell stories about imaginary characters and my favorite toys. When I started school, I would happily write in my journal for pages and pages about something that happened in my day. Then the day came where I wrote fictitious stories in response to my interests and those of my friends', and eventually I branched out into non-fiction articles and essays, where I quickly earned money.

I never dreamed I'd be a Christian writer until I took up a challenge from a friend to submit a true story about my life to a Christian teen magazine. I thought it was the hardest thing in the world to do! But I prayed about it, and eventually penned a piece on being a witness in a public school. Surprisingly, my article was published! That's when I knew God called me to lead people to Him in that manner.

These past 10 years of my life have been humbling, because I have had several lucky breaks in my writing, having published articles in a variety of genres. A good majority (though not all) have been Christian-related. But I honestly don't know what I will write down until the Lord just suddenly gives me the inspiration after I've prayed about it. That single fact has changed my life.

I've been observing the works of other Christian authors and freelance writers, mostly in recent years. I read self-help books, study guides, and bible studies, and glean what I can from all things spiritual. I don't necessarily agree with everything, but in those instances I broaden my awareness of other areas.

It's really because of reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren that I've given pause to my career. The thing of it is is that I have read the book 3 times, and each time a different area of the book as spoken to me. It's sort of like reading the Bible-you can read the same passages and each time get a different meaning from those same words. It is amazing how the Lord works in that way. So what really stood out in my mind this past week has been in whether or not it is ok for me to want to see my name in print for articles and books...and still be a Christian. I understand spiritual writing is to further God's kingdom, and that is in itself a ministry. And I understand the Lord puts the drive in us to succeed and work hard, as part of who we are. I want to remain humble in my service to Him, yet now I am struggling to figure out what the best way is to do this while still writing for monetary gain. I've always wanted to publish a book, and have millions of manuscripts waiting in the wings...but now I'm questioning if it's possible to do without being distracted from my purpose on Earth. And I'm also wondering if anyone else can relate. I am continuing to pray about this.

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