Bill Myers at the 2012 Orange County Christian Writers Conference
Bill Myers looked as if he’d come from a backyard gathering. Dressed in jeans and a jersey-style knit shirt, he took the platform Friday night at the Orange County Christians Writer’s Association with a mischievous grin. What the next hour held for his listeners became a humorous but life-changing message few Christians will ever embrace: in the end, it is the weak who win the race.
We know that verse about weakness, right? It’s the one which says, “When we are weak, then we are strong.” Yeah, that verse. The one creatives have a hard time with. The verse we paste over with the one we’re more comfortable with–the verse about talents.
Bill didn’t hold back; his vulnerability took the form of a king who knows he has no clothes and is happy to say so. He admitted his fears, and his extraordinary inadequacy for every job opportunity that ever came his way. But like the Apostle Paul, Bill found Jesus met him in his fear and trembling. And to his further surprise, Jesus blessed the one thing Bill did have to offer—his obedience.
Bill exhorted the attendees, “We can write millions of words and never leave behind anything memorable.”
A poignant object lesson about inspiration finished up the night. Bill took a small cup and filled it with water from a large pitcher until it overflowed into the plastic bowl underneath. Bill kept pouring until the stream of water was a continuous flow in and out of the small cup and into the world-bowl below.
On Saturday and Sunday, Bill took leave of humor and became a professor of Spirit-led writing. He didn’t sugar coat the need for our gifts to die before they can bear fruit. He talked about dreams resurrected and how we can rest in the Biblical process:
First, we are given a promise from God.
Second, the promise will be laughed at.
Third, we will be tempted to take a short-cut to help God along.
Fourth, the dream will go to the cross and die.
Fifth, and finally, the dream is resurrected and fulfilled in a greater way.
Often, Bill reminded us of Christ’s great love for His bride—the bride He is eager to present to the Father. The same bride dressed in white in Revelation 19:7-8, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” KJV
For me, Bill’s part in the 2012 Orange County Writer’s Conference was as vital as the meals we were served by the wonderful Newport Beach Radisson staff. His words nourished the idea that our calling is intended to reign over our giftedness just as our spirit is intended to reign over our flesh.
Binsey Cote
Tree Thoughts Contributor
