C.S. Lewis on those who are born to write and how writing is like driving sheep down a road. “If there is any gate open to the left or right the readers will most certainly go into it.”
C.S. Lewis on those who are born to write and how writing is like driving sheep down a road. “If there is any gate open to the left or right the readers will most certainly go into it.”
Those are all excellent quotes. I like The way for a person to develop a style is (a) to know exactly what he wants to say, and (b) to be sure he is saying exactly that.
The sentence which you quote brings to mind an observation I’ve made as a preacher over the years, that if I’m not clear, people have a tendency to hear their own pet theories in what I say. Sometimes even if I merely use a “buzz word” connected somehow with their pet theory, they will think I’ve just stated their theory, even if in fact I really said the exact opposite (I’ve gotten clearer over the years, of course, but to some extent this problem will always come up with poor listeners, no matter how well you communicate yourself).
Very good thoughts, Michael. We may even say things we believe are in the Word, but are actually just our long-held beliefs. Like Sherlock says, observation is the key and not automatic for all of us.
That reminds me of the time I was asked about a controversial topic during an interview with a church’s call committee. I offered some non-committal statements, trying to avoid the issue just because controversial issues tend to breed controversy. Whatever I said convinced proponents on both sides of the issue that I supported their agenda so they voted to call me as pastor.
Soon thereafter, both groups discovered that I wasn’t going out of my way to support them, concluding I must be supporting the opposing side. Stones soon came flying from multiple directions creating a withering crossfire. Maybe I should have listened to the seminary prof who advised knowing where you stand and standing there.