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@daeus-lamb @jane-maree @ericawordsmith @taylorclogston @hope-ann

Okay… in my last post I laid out an argument that theme is often misrepresented. I then put forth a definition for what theme is, defining it by the plot, characters, their arcs, and the intricate patterns of the character interactions in a world.

But halfway through writing that post I was given a steep time limit left, and had to rush to finish. And I realize that in my closing I pressed certain points, without clarifications that might be helpful. I stressed things that seemed to be missing elsewhere. Thus, I’m writing a second part to flesh things out a little further, showing the fuller scope of my beliefs on writing itself, and how to portray something as implicated and complex as theme. So without further ado, I begin:

I start by pointing out that I began my last argument from the perspective of a teacher, coach, editor, and or beta reader. This is important, because I’m looking at things from a perspective of how things look like from the outside, from the perspective of someone who’s helping your writing, not your spiritual health nor relationship with The Lord. Whereas if I were to answer from the perspective of looking at myself, knowing my heart, my relationship with The Lord, my answer would look slightly different. I know my struggles, and I teach myself differently than I would teach others. So I’ll try to cover this, showing the difference between those two perspectives, and how they can still work in unison, applying the principle of homeostasis, not equal balance.

Presuppositions laid out, I believe that once God starts a work in someone’s life, he will bring it to completion. His growth in us is something that happens over time, from one degree to another. He is healing our ability to reflect his image. To bear it in perfection. That is not something we attain in this life though, but after death. Even so I believe that it is a work that applies to us, helping us grow. I believe that we can have faith in His healing of our state. Even though we remain fallible creatures.

Yes, we sin. No, humans are not innately like Christ, in His holiness. But we have The Holy Spirit indwelling in us. This brings the assurance of our growth. And we are also told in Proverbs that those who seek wisdom will find it. So we are active in growth, but are only able because of The Lord’s grace and healing.

Where does this apply? Because in writing, we as Christians should always be seeking to learn truth, to grow in holiness, and work to do His will. And that means that in our writing we are to do our best to reflect the truth of scripture, of both special and natural revelation. It is something we are to seek. And yet, in seeking we have faith that it will be given to us.

So when I create a narrative, with anything, I’m writing character. A character is a representation of an idea, a thing (a noun that is either literal or metaphorical), or both. In fact it is many of these things put together in a complex weave, connecting abstract ideas with concrete truth. Tying emotion with logic (which are not opposites, I might add). We use all these tools to represent something. When writing about Frodo, Tolkien was writing a character. Something that represents. Something that represents truth. And he’s using a hobbit (essentially a human) to represent a human, as well as others. But we don’t have to merely use humans to represent humans. Because all we’re doing is using characters to stand in the place of what we mean. We can use a building to represent Christ. Not in whole, but in one or two areas.

What we’re working with here is metaphor. In algebra ‘x’ and ‘y’ are metaphors, characters that stand in the place of a truth, or potential truth. Frodo is a character standing in the place of a human, one that feels, one that thinks, one that is rational, and reflects the purpose of its origin. He is in so many ways a metaphor for human life, in the struggles with sin, death, darkness. A character is a retelling of something we know… as is a metaphor.

So why can we use so many different images to represent one thing? Where does this come from? If we think about God, He is consistent, unchanging in character. Morality never changes. His truth is consistent. It exists all around us.

For example: growth is a beautiful thing we see everywhere, in plants, humans, spiritual and physical. How does it happen? Through an object getting what it needs. By supporting it’s system. How do things heal? Through health and strength. And these truths apply to physical and spiritual.

Because God’s truth is so consistent and integrated in parallels all through creation, spiritual and physical, we can find an object in just about any part of creation, and see how it can take the place in representing another area of creation. It doesn’t replace in actuality, but can allow us to see things from a view of clarity.

That is metaphor. It is characterization. And everything we write, when we put the pieces together in a cohesive web or weave, says something. Usually many things. It has a conclusion. It, as a whole, is a metaphor. A characterization. A representation. It says something about life and truth. Not a new truth, but reflecting the truth that is there.

And there’s a danger in misrepresenting, mis-characterizing, creating a poor metaphor. It can mislead. It can speak mis-truth, pointing to darkness. An example of this being Satan clothing himself as an angel of light. Or on a closer level the sins of man. A man who suppresses the truth in unrighteousness. Or a saved man who mocks God. This is why the theme does matter. It is the conclusion. It is what we are characterizing, and characterizing as truth. So how do we apply it?

If I’m working with someone who is uncertain that their theme is working, I’ll tell them to look at the story, look at the characters, look at the arc, look at the world. Don’t worry about your theme. That word is throwing you off. Just tell the story with these tools you’ve been given. With prose, with poetry, with periods, and commas. With strength in verse, with powerful sentences, whether flamboyant or not. And as you tell the truth in your characters, your presuppositions will come out. Your beliefs will be shown. You will grow.

But sometimes I feel like a hypocrite. I may look down at my own stories and see them bleak. I may not see a clear theme. It sometimes makes me wonder if all my past works have been trash, just because I didn’t end on an obvious “THIS IS CHRISTIAN” note. But then I remind myself… all of truth comes from God. All of life comes from God. And I think to myself, where is God in my story? And often it’s subtle. Often it’s not blatantly Christian. Sometimes I’m telling a story of people who may or may not be believers, but they’re doing the right thing, they’re acting in truth, they’re working under the common grace of God. Something that actually happens.

Yes, it is true that you and I still have lots of growth to do in our writing. In our life. But much of that is personal, growth between the individual and God. It many times involves other humans (maybe always, in one form or another). It’s not something I can accomplish in you. But I can point you in the write direction (wordplay intended). I can do my best to guide you, by the grace of God. . And it won’t be through forcing a theme, but telling the truth about people, characters, worlds. To seek how to better do that. For one plants, one waters, but God causes the growth.

So then I talk to myself and ask, am I telling the truth? How can I do it better? Where is God in my characterization? In my metaphor.

So let’s not get hung up on the word theme. It’s something that comes from a story. Woven together. And once again, remember that God works through the means of natural revelation and special. Many times He inter-melds them.

And the theme of the Christian life? I dare to say it is about God’s works, His providence, His love, His truth, His disciplining us as a father. His truth and healing in us. His conquering death and slavery to sin.

And our learning, and growing. An intricate path, that only he knows, but one that he knows perfectly. To the end and beyond. He will equip us for the path, now and forevermore.

May God bless your writing, and in so your life, and the life of others.