I wrote a letter to the editor of our paper about an upcoming local election. Before I wrote it, I sought advice from godly friends, then prayed about the issue, and waited. When I felt at peace about it (two weeks later,) I sat down and wrote the letter. I actually asked the editor to withhold my name, or publish with initials only, because I don't want the wrath of those who oppose me. However, the publisher explained that they only publish with full names, to prevent unscrupulous editors from creating letters to benefit a certain topic. Plus, it just keep everything on a personal and professional level. I understand that, but I withdrew my submission... initially. When I had time to think and pray and revise, I resent it. The editor thanked me, complimented the article, and now it will be published.
Today I received a call from another area paper asking if they could also publish "the letter." Apparently it has been circulating. He told me it is a great letter, and he would like to forward it on to someone else. (nice). Long story short (er), it will be published in three papers in the next week or so.
All that to say, that it is a controversial subject around here right now, and I have many friends on the other side of the fence. So now I am asking for prayer and understanding. Each of us must stand by our convictions. As my sister put it, "don't worry; if you are taking a stand for something, you'll inevitably have some opposition, but that's ok--no one made a difference without disagreeing with someone or something in order to change things, you know what I mean? There's nothing wrong with that--look at all the opposition Jesus and his disciples had for standing up for what they believed in. I hope you won't worry about what other people think of your article!" I love my family.
And, I know, I'm all vague and mysterious. Heh. I may post the letter on here, or a link to it, when it shows up in the paper. I feel strongly about this issue, so you can anticipate more about it... :-)
8 comments:
Thanks for commenting on my blog. I will be looking forward to reading your mystery letter to the editor. I agree with your sister--we need more people willing to take courage and stand up for what they believe in.
I also wanted to thank you for the Baptist joke--as a former missionary kid from a Baptist background, it made me laugh my head off, then I had to call my dad and tell it to him! (He laughed too.)
I will pray for you. I think it's great that you are standing up for what you believe in...that takes courage. And remember: courage is not doing something without being scared...it's doing something while being scared and following through anyway....or something like that!
Take Care!
Since you liked that Baptist joke...
My mother-in-law was telling me that her other son found their church service very boring. He comes from a pentecostal church, and we all know how they get their groove on... so she explained that Baptists are, after all, the "frozen chosen." Heh. Thought that was pretty funny!
I have a whole slew of Baptist jokes that I may need to publish at some point! Have you ever read anything by Philip Yancey? Love him!
That's one of the reasons that I love you, Wendy...your convictions. Once you step out of ignorance (lack of knowlegde-not stupidity-which is knowing something but choosing to keep the same view point), you actually try to do something about the situation. Whether it be praying, educating, blogging, whatever it may be, you try to step out! You are always talking about wanting to minister to people. Maybe this is your way...your gift of writing in a clear, purposeful way. Thanks for being a voice for us and hopefully it will lift a veil of ignorance for others. See you in the papers...:)
Ooops, I should correct my previous thought bubble, keeping the same view point is okay if you've educated yourself and have decided to stick to your guns...it's that in between, lukewarm, sissy stuff that really gets me...stupidity...not moved in any direction. There didn't want to offend everyone...just some. Ha!
Hopefully your letter will be taken as another look at a solution to something...and not an assault on anything. There's nothing controversial about examining something from all sides, is there? It's good for us all to think things through well before making decisions...and, obviously, the same actions tend to yield the same results...even when we just wish that they would suddenly solve all our problems. I'll be looking for your article!
Ooh, controversy! Was your letter about sleepovers? Mormons? :-)
I'm oh, so, curious! Can't wait till you publish the link.
I wrote a LTTE once aftr I read a story that started with "Oh my G..." I was so angry it would appear in a serious news publication. And they published it!
I think the editors really do want good letters to provoke discussion in the community.
I can't wait to read it...
HAHAHAA! Very funny, Ann-Marie, very funny.
No, it's about taxes. Specifically property taxes, which I HATE. And more specifically, it's for funding a new high school. The motives are good, but we're catering to a messed-up system. I'm not going to vote for anything that will cause my family, and others, to suffer "for a good cause." Argh is all I can say.
It was published in one paper on Sunday, and in our city's paper today. It will come out in two other papers shortly. Already I have emails coming in about it. Most who agree with me, and several who respectfully disagree. Thankfully, no one has been downright hateful, so far.
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