Lessons for overwhelmed and discouraged writers from the elk

Are you battling the "Deadly D's"?

Disappointments, doubts, discouragement - I don't think any writer is immune. Sadly, too many succumb to this widespread pandemic and give up. Manuscripts are left unfinished. Even manuscripts that have gone through multiple rewrites may be abandoned.

I've found the attack of the "Deadly D's" is especially intense on those who are truly called and gifted to impact lives through their words. Why? I have no doubt it's because the evil one sees them as a threat.

What can we learn from the elk when it all just seems too hard? When the words don't flow? When editors aren't interested?(1) When family and friends may question why we are "wasting our time"? When we read what we've written and are tempted to throw it in the trash or delete it from our computer? (Do NOT do this!)

For 24 years before the pandemic I've watched the elk on the campus of the YMCA of the Rockies where the Colorado Christian Writers Conference was held. And I've spent hours, sometimes at dawn, in Rocky Mountain National Park. I've observed the elk (still haven't seen a moose!), and Father has spoken to me through them.

I've seen the elk charging across the land, head held high. Seems amazing to me. A mature bull elk's antlers can weigh 20 to 40 pounds. That would be like me carrying around one or two 20-pound sacks of potatos. Well, sadly, I'm carrying even more in pounds I need to lose. But it's the DOUBTS that I allow to weigh me down....

https://conta.cc/3SYc5Y3