Zuckerberg, Zarusa & The Secret to Identity (Five Minute Friday)
(Picture: Jason McElWeenie via Creative Commons)
Hi everyone. Today on the blog, it’s a return to “Five Minute Friday”. I’ve written several ‘Five Minute Friday’ posts before, and when I saw today’s theme, ‘Write’, I knew I had something to share.
The concept is simple: Write for 5 minutes, straight from the heart, on that weeks theme (given by Lisa-Jo) – and then share it.
No edits, no marinading or reflecting – just write and share. As I’ve always said, if you’re a writer or blogger, it’s well worth doing occasionally – it really challenges and helps you grow as a writer. It’s most definitely helped me and I look forward to it every week.
I hope you like the post, and please do let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Here goes:
You may have guessed this already. But I’m not Mark Zuckerberg. Or Michael Hyatt.
I am a writer. I was created to write. I wasn’t gifted, created or called to be an electronics geek. I’m not savvy in techno language like Mark Zuckerberg. I’m also not a publishing guru, like say Michael Hyatt. Not that these are bad people in themselves at all, to the contrary, I admire and respect them both. But I wasn’t called before the creation of the world to be a computer programmer, a publisher, or even an editor. And neither am I a graphics designer of note. I don’t understand CGI, graphics or design – certainly not how it works.
And you know what, that’s okay.
Because I don’t have to, to be a writer. In order to be me.
I am a writer. Right now. With our without any of those gifts.
So much of what being a writer is nowadays is tied up with design, publishing and being a techno-geek. But I’m pretty sure the best writers in history weren’t all savvy in these areas, of their day. And I don’t remember God ever telling me I had to be good at those things. I’m called to write, to put words on my laptop and share them with the world, so I can use what I’ve been given to bless others. And it’s okay to be just that.
Because it’s okay to be just who we are.
I need help publishing, with graphic design and anything technological or involving computer code – and that’s okay. Yes, they are important, but guess what, they aren’t my calling. If I need them, I’ll get a friend or expert to help me with them. Because that’s what community is all about, that’s what being the body of Christ is all about. It’s not about doing it all ourselves, it’s about doing things together. Working together to create something beautiful, something amazing. If we can do more than one thing, great. But if we can’t, that’s okay too.
Really.
And we don’t have to feel guilty for being who we are. Let’s just do what we are called and gifted to do, and do it well – and work with other people, in community, to create something bigger, something amazing, something beyond what we could ever create alone.
I write. I lead. I get insight and understanding. I have loads of ideas for books and posts. I think deeply about the world. That’s my move.
That’s all I need to do, and do it well. I can get others to help me with the rest.
And it’s the same for all of us. That’s the secret of discovering our identity. Being us.
So what does this have to do with Zarusa? Well let me leave you with this story of the great rabbi Zarusa, who I’ve quoted here before:
Zarusa lay upon his deathbed at the end of an extraordinary life – yet he was agitated, and greatly disturbed. When questioned why, he simply said:
“I am afraid, when I get to heaven, God won’t ask me, ‘Why weren’t you more like moses?’ or ‘Why weren’t you more like king david?’ He’ll ask me:
‘zarusa – why weren’t you more like zarusa?”
This post is part of ’5 Minute Friday’ – today, on the theme “Write”
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Beautiful! I totally relate and agree! 🙂
Thanks Pilar, that means a lot! 🙂
Love it! That is exactly how I feel as as writer. It’s freeing to finally be able to say- this is me and what I’m good at/called to and it doesn’t have to look like anyone else.
Absolutely Kylie, glad the post resonated with you. Thanks for the comment & encouragement.
oh, james, thanks so much for this today. been feeling very frustrated with several things lately that stem from identity and what i’m meant to do. your words are a soothing balm and reminder to remember who and what i am and work to do it well.
i hope to have that mousepad in the post to you this weekend! be blessed, my friend!
Hey Tim, thanks for the comment – glad the post resonated with and blessed you, glad to be of assistance. And look forward to getting that mousemat…. 🙂
~But I’m pretty sure the best writers in history weren’t all savvy in these areas, of their day.~
Thank goodness! Because I’m not either 🙂
Good to know we’re not alone eh Leslie? Thanks for your comment.
Wow, what a great post. You are on the right track! Keep it up! I believe in you James!
Thanks Dayna, that means so much to me – really appreciate it.
I really enjoyed your post today James, loved it!! Thank you for sharing your heart hope you are feeling better after yesterday. Also loved the Zarusa quote might steal it…
Thanks Sheena, appreciate your encouragement – glad you liked the post. Hows the writing going? Feel free to e-mail me & let me know.
Love this, James! It’s so freeing to step gratefully into our own individual God-given role and be quite content with being just who we were created to be. Though so many struggle to find themselves and their place in the scheme of things. And what we are as people (plus what we are able to do) is always evolving and open to change as God may open doors of opportunity we hadn’t expected to walk through. With each level of calling comes the precise anointing and equipping we need to be effective for Him. A great post with a brilliant quote to end with! Thanks 🙂
Thanks Joy, really appreciate your wise words & encouragement as ever – glad the post resonated with you & you liked the quote. One of my favourites too!
Beautiful post James. What a boring world it would be if we all had the same calling. God in his wisdom made us all unique, lets embrace who we are!
Thanks Mandy, glad the post resonated with you – so true, we are all unique. 🙂
James, you already know my thoughts on this, but I wanted to stop by and say great post. I love the quote by Zarusa.
Thanks Joan, your thoughts are always appreciated. Glad you like the quote – one of my favourites. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Thanks for being you, James. Continue sharing your writing. God bless~
Thanks Maria, really appreciate your encouragement. Thanks.
Oh your writing is so natural and authentic. This one went straight to my heart. Bull’s eye! Lol. Thank you for reminding to just do what we are called to do.
I have this tendency to worry too much on the design and plug in etc because I know that I am not good at those stuffs. But this post has led me to have some peace to not worry on those things because our purpose is just write and share our works. Besides, I can always get some help from my geeky friends. 🙂
Keep on writing James. You’ll never how much your work affect your readers… thank you for this piece.
Jon, thank you so much for your kind words. So glad the post resonated with you and gave you some peace. That means so much to me. And finally, thank you for the last comment especially, you have no idea how perfectly timed that was for me. Glad to have you as part of this community.