In the last couple of weeks, I’ve been struck by the uproar over the bad sportsmanship by both fans and players in the playoffs. While I normally thrive in the midst of the noise, I’ve found myself thrown off – distracted even.

Why am I bothered by hurtful fans and players in a game where my team won. This isn’t the first time these issues have been part of the noise of life. Most times, these kinds of things make me ponder humanity. Where we fail. Where we lack love. How far we still have to go. I can write about this. I can capture some part of the noise and put it into a character, a conflict, a victory. Normally, these noises inspire me.

Not this time.

Why?

There’s the answer.

For me, and maybe you too, contest season for Christian fiction writers is upon us. Submissions for ACFW and the Frasier contest, amongst others, are due this spring. I’ve been pondering whether I should enter the contests. The Genesis would be big for me as I’ve never dipped my toe in that well. Maybe I’ll enter the Frasier again. I did okay last year.

Okay.

And there it was. My why.

I did okay.

Okay is why the noise was chaos instead of inspiration. My noise was their noise. My why was their why. There are good and bad games for every team. Why cheer an injury or throw bottles on the field? It’s only an award. It’s only a game. It’s not a matter of life or…

Death.

#RIPDavidBowie. #RIPAlanRick… No, wait. #RIPSeverusSnape. #RIPGlenFrey.

It’s only a contest. Does entering and, if I’m being honest, winning, matter? Should it matter? The answer is in the why.

Why enter? To gain valuable feedback on my work? Sure. To validate my storytelling skills? To test God to show me I should or shouldn’t be writing at all?

I’m guilty of this chaos – of these whys.

Better question. Why do I write? Because I can? Because I think I have a story or two or twenty to tell? Because I need the money? Can’t be these.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV)

To glorify Jesus. Make Him known. To spread the hope of redemption, grace and mercy I value as much as life itself.

These are the whys that matter.

It doesn’t mean contests aren’t worth entering. They offer helpful feedback at times. One Frasier judge made me rethink an entire character. Another pointed out I write long, sometimes convoluted sentences she had to reread multiple times, probably causing the lines in her forehead to etch deeper into her brow, to figure out what I was trying to say.

That one’s on purpose. I already knew that.

Still.

Enter contests. Or don’t. I may. But if I do. It will be for the right why. #ForHisGlory.

~*~

Nick Joies writes contemporary and Biblical fiction with a touch of romance, as well as Christian living, Bible studies and devotionals. She writes for His glory because salvation is a matter of life and death.