When Not Winning is Winning

I was recently nominated for a writing award and attended the Gala Awards ceremony with hundreds of other writers. Some, like my brother, John, and I were finalists in numerous writing categories of work we completed in 2015. Others were there to support friends and family, were event sponsors or were attending the writing conference connected to the Gala.

Finalists feel a mix of emotions when they attend such events. I know I did. If you’re nominated, you feel grateful for the recognition as you’ve probably told others about the nomination and you’re excited about the possibility of going from “Finalist” to “Winner!” But you also harbour some trepidation because statistically there’s always a better chance of losing than winning when you are one of a number of nominees. If you’re not The Winner, you’ll be one of The Losers. The final applause from the audience will not be for you.

So why enter such a competition

You enter a writing competition because you believe that you’ve written a compelling piece that will be recognized by the judges. By being selected as a finalist, you have met their criteria. So what’s the problem. I believe it’s our human condition. We all have some desire to be recognized and applauded for our work. It doesn’t matter if it’s writing, gardening or our regular occupation. We’d like people to say we’ve done a good job. If they say we’ve done a great job, that’s even better. When judges at a writing competition ultimately select someone else, there’s a tendency to think that nominee’s work was great but mine was merely good. I was reminded by one of the judges that my hypothesis is incorrect.

The judge says

But hold on to that envelope please! Before I tell you what the judge said, let me explain one crucial element of this story. This competition was part of The Word Awards sponsored by The Word Guild, a Canadian organization dedicated to “encouraging, equipping and empowering writers and editors who are Christian.” If you join this organization, you must agree with the statement of faith based on the Apostle’s Creed. You can write on many topics and crossover into secular writing but you identify as a Christian even though you may not choose to write on a purely Christian theme. You are writing though because you feel this is God’s calling on your life. So ultimately, God is your judge. He is the One you are writing for. He is the one who decides your personal story arc. Your role is to follow His guidance.

So if God has called you to write, than you should write. Competitions like the Word Awards are a wonderful recognition for the many Christian writers who are doing great work throughout Canada and abroad. But I don’t believe an award should be a Christian writers’ ultimate goal. Our goal should be connected to His plan for our lives. A Christian’s writing—as you are directed by God’s soft whisper or strong direction—should be connected to the Almighty’s hand as He directs your own. And I’m sure other Word Guild members believe this as well. Let me explain how this played out in my life.

Marcus story

My shortlisted blog article was about my grandson, Marcus, who had died at fourteen in a car accident on Boxing Day in 2014. Marcus had made a confession of faith on Boxing Day 2009 and I had read his conversion story What God Wants for Christmas on Boxing Day 2010 at my church as part of a four Sunday reading series I had written for Advent.

Did you notice the day that kept repeating itself? Boxing Day is a definite link in this story but it’s not the only one God whispered in my ear. Or perhaps He shouted. I’m not sure. But I do know God wanted this story told.

What He wanted me to know

I shared Marcus’ conversion story in 2010 and it lay dormant. I had no idea that four years later that story link would have such an impact on so many. As our family struggled with Marcus’ death we were reminded that while we were grieving we could celebrate his promotion to heaven. It gave me great joy to have been part of Marcus’ conversion but more comfort to know he was in Jesus’ arms. I had an incredible peace— a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7)—that I believe God gave me as we navigated the loss of our grandson. My daughter’s pastor linked the story to his message at Marcus memorial service. And then, less than a week later, an eternal link would occur on the other side of North America that would cement for me God’s sovereign plan in Marcus story.

Marcus story in Haiti

Our friend Laura Mawhinney has been involved in medical missions work in Haiti with Project Aftershock, an organization she founded in 2010. She shared Marcus story in Haiti in January 2015 with a number of orphanages and sixty children accepted Christ as their saviour! This was the story I was nominated for by the Word Guild judges.

Again, I was struck that God wanted our family to know Marcus story is continuing to be told. This was another confirmation of His plan. So while I may not have been the ultimate winner in the Article – Blog category, I do not believe I lost. I believe if God is directing my writing I am winning. This is when not winning is winning. No earthly award trumps God’s heavenly reward.

God in the fine print

And the most recent confirmation of God’s perspective on my story came near the end of the Awards Gala when James M. Houston won the Leslie K. Tarr Award for lifetime achievement. He’s 93 now and was the first president of Regent College in Vancouver. He taught with C.S. Lewis at Oxford before coming to Canada. He put the whole awards in context when he ended his acceptance speech with, “We need to exercise humility of our heart for the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ and so our applause is to Him, and Him alone.” Dr. Houston reminded us all who should be thanked.  The God of the universe loves each one of us and the sacrifice of His son, Jesus, for our sins so that we can have eternal life is where our applause should be.

So while I continue to write—and even enter other writing competitions to increase my story exposure if that is what God wills—I want to follow the Apostle Peter’s advice: “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11)

If God is in the fine print, you are winning.