People-Watching by Donna Mumma

People-Watching

by Donna Mumma

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for out of it spring the issues of life”

(Proverbs 4:23, NKJV).

By nature, I am a people-watcher. I enjoy finding a place outside the bustle from which I can watch stories play out before my eyes. A young couple hold hands, their eyes filled with those passionate sparks of first love. A mom blinks away exhaustion as she pushes an infant in a stroller with one hand and clutches her toddler with the other. An elderly woman shuffles unnoticed as shoppers arc around her in their rush to the next store.

I can watch for long periods of time, allowing my imagination to store tidbits of real life for use in my stories. But sometimes, this quirk of mine brings heartache instead of inspiration.

Noticing things others may not has often enlightened me to things I’d rather not know. I recognized an acquaintance no longer wore a wedding ring. I kept this to myself until their divorce was announced later. Worry lines on a brow and tired creases in the corners of a friend’s eyes cued me into a health diagnosis they weren’t quite ready to share. Observing a neighbor’s weedy yard triggered worry, which was confirmed when we heard she’d passed away unexpectedly.

A writers heart needs to absorb life like a sponge. If we are to reach readers and point them to God’s kingdom, we must understand the world they live in. But that can also wear us down. The world isn’t always a pretty picture.

As this verse reminds us, we must protect our hearts. From our limited human perspective, we may only see pain, brokenness, rebellion, and hopelessness. Our hearts can become weary or hardened. The urge to reserve our words for an appreciative few may cause us to withdraw.

If we spend too much time watching a world determined to follow anything but the message we want to share, we can lose sight of an important part of our call. Sharing God’s love, hope, and forgiveness. The light that destroys the darkness.

Protect your hearts, fellow wordsmiths. It’s okay to watch the world go by but never take your eyes off the one who loves us most and who calls us to love others. When our hearts are tuned to God, life-issuing words spring from them.

Dear Heavenly Father, we live in a broken world that can easily ensnare us in its hopelessness. Help us to protect our hearts and keep our eyes on you so we may fight off the weariness and share your light amidst the darkness.

Donna Mumma perfected storytelling in her first grade classroom, spinning tales exciting enough to settle a roomful of antsy six-year-olds. She loves to blend history, mystery, and faith in her novels, which include Fresh Scars, The Women of Wynton’s, and First Comes Marriage . . . Then Comes Murder.  A native Floridian, she now lives on the Sunshine State’s west coast, sharing life with her family, and her energetic collie, Duke. Connect with her at www.donnamumma.me., Facebook at Donna Mumma, or Instagram at donnamumma_writer.