I think so much about finding my voice. Resonating with others. Getting my tribe. Maybe even getting a book deal. Oh, to be a full time writer. That would be magical, I say to myself. And I think this is the end, the goal, the dream.
But is it?
What will happen once I do all these things, if I do them all? So I have adoring fans. I have the ability to be a full time writer. I have a platform. What then? What will I do after this? Is the goal really the platform, or is there more?
I realize that I have once again fallen prey to the lie that says the goal is the platform for the platform’s sake. This is not true. It has never been true. It will never be true. At least not for me.
I write from my heart to capture the attention of others. Once I have their attention, my task is not over. Indeed, it’s only begun. Now comes the real work. The pouring into their lives hope and joy and a deeper understanding of God and why this world is so busted and how God is still good even when He seems absent and how come people feel better about saying God allows evil instead of causing it.
This is the real work. The platform is what it has always been. A hunk of wood or perhaps plastic or metal to stand upon to say something that matters. For a moment, I was so busy being a carpenter I forgot I am really a writer. Now back to crafting some words that count
This is part of the Five Minute Fridays link up. To find out more about Five Minute Fridays, click here.
Love this, Chris. In seeking to explore your reasoning you have also succeeded in the real goal. This is connection, from the heart, real and raw as it should be. Thank you! 🙂
Chris, you do write from the heart. I can tell that I want to read more. Beautiful.
Love this!! Keep writing and pursuing the dream – you have a gift 🙂
Fantastic writing.
But the platform is your launch site. To be that great writer you need the Carpenters foundation – so you’re doing it the right way after all.
You are a carpenter and a writer, and an encourager, and all three are important.
Dear Chris
Wow, you make me think! I have often wondered what we should say to others about this Pappa of ours who sometimes seems so uncaring, until I realized to rather say little and love much is the best.
Blessings to you
Mia
That is a beautiful thought: to say little and love much.
For all these jobs, we ought to get paid a bit more, huh?
I don’t disagree with you Jenn. For a while though, I began to think the point was the platform. I forgot the foundation was just the foundation
Thanks for the encouragement Denise!
Lizzy, you just brought a smile to my face and brightened my morning!
I hope to see you around more Debby
Joy, you are too kind. I always love your comments here
Perfect, Chris. I need to be reminded of this… every week! 😉 Thank you!
Mike,
I feel the same way. With all the experts pushing platform, it’s easy to forget the why
Wonderful reminder to refocus on what it’s all about! First post I read today, so thanks for a great start to another beautiful day. 🙂
Terrific way to start my day Chris! Keep up the good work and always follow your dreams!
I have seen churches that suffer because of this problem. The pastor has the vision of just being a pastor, accomplishes his goal, and has no vision for the future of the people he is leading, or himself. Good words man!
I agree. I wrote this right before going to bed (way too late, I might add), and it put me to bed in the best frame of mind.
Aw shucks [suffling feets]! Thanks Kathy
Man, I love being able to walk this path of following Jesus with you Jeremy. You draw out things I never considered, just like this. I never thought of this from the perspective of a church, but you are so very right. Platform is never enough, whether in writing or pastoring
I concur my friend! I think you nailed it in this post. Platform should be a means to accomplish the vision God calls you to do. You aren’t called to be a writer, but to use a writing avenue in order to influence others for the glory of God. Platforms are simply job titles, they merely say what you do, not how or why you do it. I think that is why people can get burnt out on their jobs… too focused on the what (title or platform) and not the why
I guess I could have made this post a lot shorter, and Tim Reed-ish too: When you do the what, don’t forget the why!
Hi Chris, clicked here from your comment on my blog. thank you for your encouragement! This is such a great post! And yes, that’s the kind of platform I’d like, summed up perfectly – ‘to stand upon to say something that matters.’
You’re very welcome Ruth! It’s pretty easy to get sidetracked about platforms, I think. Glad I am not alone in this though
You get it, you really get ‘it’ and you convey ‘it’ so very well.
As a writer, my goal was always to write something that would touch someone, anyone. It didn’t matter what it was or who it was written for, I just wanted to change one life. Lovely
Thanks Fiona! 🙂
Megan,
I really want my words to inspire, to encourage, to produce opportunity for change in others’ lives too. Every once in a while, I get turned around and focus on me…it never seems to end well
Chris, I have only just found this post of yours, and can I just say how perfectly timely this is for me. I have been thinking right along those lines lately. How vain is the pursuit of fame alone. How off I have been in trying to get there just for the sake of being able to say I have a platform. I want to point people to Jesus. Period. And to do it to the best of my ability. But I’m trying to figure out how to build platform and point to Him at the same time. Any advice?
Bria,
I don’t have an easy one-size-fits-all answer for you. If I ever come up with one, I’m guessing that will be my platform right?
I spent about an hour literally on my face in prayer right after I wrote this post. These FMF posts so often speak to me as much as anyone else. I realized I was trying to build a platform first, and then figure out what to say once I got it. Plus, the platform was all about me. I walked away from that prayer time with the some strong convictions about what to do with the time I have to write and my little corner of the internet.
Now for me it’s a matter of walking that out in faith, and leaving the rest to Him. I will be praying for you to find your God-directed niche too, and to learn what it looks like to build your platform while honoring Christ.