inkhorn

MD and I were chatting the other day and I asked him for feedback on my writing. Apart from all the nice things he said (which I shan’t embarrass my readers with!), we discussed the reason I call myself inkhorn . The explanation, according to him, deserved a post in itself.  An inkhorn is an archaic description of an inkwell or a small, portable container for ink. As such, it is constantly being emptied of its contents and being refilled – to be emptied again. An inkhorn is a valuable, necessary tool for any writer. Without it, a pen that runs dry would be useless. When I chose to become a writer, I prayed that God would use me, my skills and my work for His glory. I wanted my life to be emptied again and again of all self and be filled with His love. To be honest, some portions of being emptied are quite painful, but the hope and joy is that He fills me up, to continue my journey of being transformed into His likeness. So I am His inkhorn ; for Him to write His story with!

I came across this verse the other day – “As for me…I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”* And I thought to myself that I wanted this to be my prayer too. So I asked God that He make me more like Him. Which was when I began seeing the real me. And it is neither a pretty picture nor a comfortable process! The truth really hurts! Gaining novel insight into my character has been fairly distressing so far. I have found that I can be unbelievably daft, smug, judgemental, narrow-minded, selfish, depressive – well the list goes on, but its cathartic just listing these out! (Less painful than finding myself in a situation where “evil Ruth” suddenly comes to the fore and shocks the daylights out of everyone around!) Anyway, as I was saying, these glaring faults of mine, which were suddenly thrust in my face, haven’t got me down. In fact, I’m rather pleased, because this is proof that He is working on me. We keep reading again and again that God corrects those He loves – I w...