When God Called Me To Be a Writer
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A Childlike Dream
As far back as I could remember, I have always had a passion for writing. I think it all started with reading books. When I was in elementary, I recall being fond of reading almost all the books given to me as soon as the school year starts. In high school, I was a member of our school paper. I also wrote my first book as part of our school project.
When I reached college, however, I didn’t choose a course that would prepare me for a career in writing. I remembered thinking it wouldn’t be practical for our family. As the eldest child, I wanted to help my family earn as soon as I graduate from school. And so I chose a course in accounting.
A Song and a Bible Verse
For quite a long time, I tried to put behind me my passion for writing. I worked in a prestigious auditing firm. After that, I worked as an accountant and an internal auditor.
During all those years, I felt a certain emptiness in me. While I was now better off financially, there was something in my soul that kept on aching within me.
One day, while attending mass, I think I heard a song that made me realize what I was being called to do. The song was titled “Here I Am, Lord”.
The song goes on like this:
“I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry...
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?”
And if that song was not enough, I also remembered reading the following Bible verse:
“Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.” – Isaiah 40, NAB
I understood then what I wanted to do. I wanted to write so I could comfort the people around me.
My First Blog
When I started to take writing seriously again, I managed to create my own blog. It became an avenue not only to express myself but to help other people through writing.
Looking back, I must admit that my skills were lacking then. But I persisted with a firm belief in my calling.
I even opened a section in my blog where people can send me letters and ask me to pray for them. I couldn’t have imagined the depths of other people’s problems had I not read them myself. I felt both humbled and privileged to play my part in consoling those who are troubled.
One day, I felt I should finally give up my day job and write full-time. I resigned from my audit work with the hope that my current earnings from writing would soon grow to match the income I was giving up.
The Transition
After struggling for two years, the time I had hoped for never came. My income from writing fluctuated to the point that it would never be enough for my needs.
That’s when I decided to migrate to Australia. With my background in accounting, I got qualified for a permanent visa. Again, I tried to forget writing and I tried to find a stable job in another land.
I wanted to be a successful person so that I could write something that could inspire people. I thought that was how I should comfort them.
Later on, I have realized that it was not the way God wanted me to look at things. And that was not the only way to help people.
I have learned that I could comfort people more if I could tell them that they can still find joy even in the midst of suffering as long as they have God. One doesn’t have to be rich or successful before one begins to live a meaningful life.
Going Back
I went back to the Philippines and I went back to writing. Even if so many people told me I must be crazy for leaving such a great opportunity behind, I went on to follow my purpose.
It was during that time that I began to understand more deeply the “Parable of the Pearl”. I was like the rich merchant who sold everything he had because of the one treasure he has found.
After some time, I have received a very comforting message while reading the book based on St. Faustina’s diaries:
“My daughter, I assure you of a permanent income on which you will live. Your duty will be to trust completely in my goodness, and my duty will be to give you all you need. I am making Myself dependent upon your trust: if your trust is great, then My generosity will be without limit.” (Jesus to St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul)
While I did not win the lottery, I was gradually able to earn sufficiently from writing. I was even able to build my own apps about the Catholic faith including one app that got downloaded by more than 500,000 people! It was a God-given miracle I could never forget.
The Struggle Goes On
I wish I could tell you it all ended happily ever after. But that would not be the true story.
There will always be some hardships I must overcome with God’s help. As the world grows more secular, it also becomes less tolerant of its views towards religion. I should keep on exploring ways to earn from writing and promote my Catholic books.
But I pray that I may continue to have faith despite it all. I pray that even in the face of challenges, I may rejoice that God has used me all these years to shed some light in the hearts of those who have no hope.
I would like to end this post with a quote from Mother Angelica that continues to inspire me today:
“I am not afraid to fail, I am scared to death of dying and having the Lord say to me. 'Angelica, this is what you might have done had you trusted Me more'.”
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