A Writer’s “Confession”

What a great surprise yesterday to hear my own words coming back to me from the pulpit! Writing, to me (and probably to most Christian authors), is not a “job.” It’s a need and a prayer. A need to finally express what’s been building up in my mind and heart, bursting to get out. And a prayer that God will use the seeds I sow to bring other minds and hearts closer to Him.

Today’s reading at Mass echoes that prayer: “The one who provides seed for the sower … will multiply your seed and increase the harvest” (2 Cor 9:10).

I can’t think of any better way for God to increase our “harvest” as writers than to inspire priests and deacons to use our words and insights in their preaching.

So it was both humbling and fulfilling for me at Mass yesterday to hear a homily based on Secret 7 of my new book on confession — even before it’s published! And it was especially rewarding, because the priest was Fr. Michael Gaitley, himself an extremely gifted writer and powerful preacher.

I had given him a rough draft of the manuscript last week, but, knowing how busy he is, I had no idea how soon he’d be able to review it.

What a joyful surprise, then, to find that he had not only read it already, but found seeds to sow from it.

Thank you, Lord, for the way You bless and use even the least of us workers in Your vineyard!