Some people can trace key movements in their life story back to important conversations, chance encounters, or dramatic events. For me, it’s been mostly books. One of the primary ways God has guided my life has been by putting certain books in my hand at just the right moment.
When I was struggling through a faith crisis, it was Brian McLaren’s Finding Faith. When I was trying to sort out the Church’s role in the world it was Lesslie Newbigin’s The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. When I was trying to make historical sense of who Jesus was and why his death matters, it was N. T. Wright’s Jesus and the Victory of God. Dang it, I’ll go ahead and admit it. When I was trying to decide whether or not I wanted to continue leading a church, it was John Maxwell’s “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” that kept me in the boat. Each of these books, and several others, have shaped the trajectory my life has taken and explain why I’m a pastor instead of a real estate developer.
In the last week, I’ve been spending time with another book that I’m pretty sure I’m going to look back on someday and say, “That book saved my life.” (Please excuse the hyperbole, but if you’re a book lover, then you know what I mean.)
I first heard of Steven Pressfield’s “The War of Art” several years ago. It sounded interesting at the time, but I wasn’t compelled to check it out. Recently, Donald Miller mentioned it on his blog and I decided to give it a go. Within five pages I sensed that the timing was perfect.
You see, I’ve been in kind of a funk lately. I’ve had a hard time figuring out why. Things are going well with Fulcrum. My boys are a delight. Heather is flourishing. Yet I’ve been deeply unsettled. I’ve struggled with depression in the past and I was concerned that maybe I was heading back into that abyss. If so, I think Pressfield has helped me understand why.
I’ve been getting my butt kicked by what Pressfield calls “Resistance.”
Pressfied says, “Resistance cannot be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. But it can be felt. We experience it as an energy field radiating from a work-in-potential. It’s a repelling force. It’s negative. Its aim is to shove us away, distract us, prevent us from doing our work.”
Resistance is what keeps us from doing the one thing, that if we were to start doing, would make us happy the moment we began to do it.
Over the past few days, I’ve attacked the resistance I’ve felt and done the one thing I know deep down inside I’m supposed to be doing. Each time, the dark clouds have parted and I’ve felt my mood brighten immediately. Some of what I have to do as a church planter drains me, but when I do my one thing I’m energized beyond belief.
Resistance never stays down for the count, however. Defeat it one day and the next it will be up and waiting for you when you crawl out of bed. It’s an ongoing battle, but now that I know the name and nature of my enemy, I’m prepared for war.
What about you? Does any of this talk of resistance strike a chord with you?
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Although I have not read the book I myself have been running across the title it seems the last 3-4 months in various settings…one being Don Miller’s blog as well. This thought process about resistance got going early this year when I read Seth Godin’s Linchpin. I hear what you are saying about the resistance, but feel as if I am struggling to figure out that one thing as you described. That one thing that once you start to push through you feel alive or that you are doing the work that matters. Curious what is that one thing for you? Is it writing your short stories that you have talked about before. Thanks for sharing this post and being honest about your struggles.
I think the people who want every one to think they are busy are actually a bit lazy. That is, some people hide from doing what they really should be doing with extra, apparently impt things.
I think busyness is The Great Resistance. Especially for those in ministry/people related jobs (which is a lot of people)
I no longer schedule any meetings on Wed/Th/Fri mornings. That’s time for study/writing/sermons 9what really fills me)
Great post.
I read this book when I was half way through writing The Feast and it helped me do the hard work of editing (I hate revisions)
Keep writing Wade.
Our conversation the other day has energized me and was a super confirmation as to what God may be calling me to be.
As excited as I am about it, it seems like I’m walking in deep mud. It’s just so slow. I guess all things worth striving after are slow.
I feel like all of life around me is resistance. It’s not that there are bad things pushing me out of line with what I want to be doing. It’s just this seeming ending search for significance that evades me. I want to be about the business I’m here for, and maybe God is telling me to just do it where I am.
I am going to buy the book you talked about to see if this is further confirmation of my life’s call.
Pray for me as I seek this out.
Boy, after reading my comment back, I sound like one confused puppy!
Lantz–its a really good book. I think you’ll like it. You too Keith. Hang in there.
For me,it’s writing. Writing sermons, articles, stories, blog posts. Doesn’t really matter. I just know that if I’m not putting words together regularly I start feeling it.
Josh–I agree that busyness is my most common form of resistance. I can always find plenty of stuff to do that takes me away from what I’m supposed to be doing. Thanks for the encouragement.
I just came back here to see what you had to say about The War of Art. It was a great book. I’ve got a close school classmate who is a professional artist – has been for years and is very accomplished – who lives near you out from Leander. His huge problem is resistance to start and work on his paintings. Mine is with writing, but they are both Art & after I read the War of Art I decided I needed to give Bill a copy to read.
The book applies in so many areas of live, I think. Especially for us more creative type personalities. Right now, as I said the other day on FB, I’m about half way through On Writing Well, which (for me – a nonfiction writer) for me, goes along well with the War of Art. On Writing Well is reminding me that I AM a good writer, have been writing in all sorts of forms for years. It’s just that I’ve become a SLOPPY writer and lazy. I’ve given in to the resistance to keep doing the work that has to be done to write well.
So, the two books together are very helpful, I think. In the past few weeks, I’ve been writing and working hard on heavily editing my blog posts, so that I can get back into the practice of it. I’ve been asked to do a newspaper column (I was a full time Community Editor for the daily paper here for three years a long time ago) for the paper here on the Religion page, so now I’ve got even more incentive to get back to my better writing in 500 words or less.
Now, back to your current post! Thanks for all YOUR good writing that you share with us Wade!!
Dee
Thanks Dee!