As a writer, accountability has been on my mind in recent days. I’ve been in community with other writers and we set goals for ourselves. At the end of our weekly meetings, we each state our goals. At the next meeting, we share if we were able to hit the target.
Opinions Can Help
In life, maybe in writing as well, it is so easy to get sidetracked. The truth is, most often I’m sure I’m right; and as I head out to obtain my goal like a hound dog following a scent. I need someone to say, “Whoa, wait a minute. Are you sure you want to chase that rabbit?”
“Have you thought this through?”
I can believe with all my heart that I’m doing what God wants. But sometimes my whole-hearted determination to produce may dull my hearing to where I don’t hear the Holy Spirit say, “You’re on the wrong track. Consider this.”
Our Church Family can be our first accountability community.
Accountability is vital in every facet of life. It’s good to have a group of like-minded believers for guidance, and where better than in a church? (Or perhaps a cell group, or life group, or a community of people focused on the same thing.) I need my Pastor, my teachers, my leaders, even the little old ladies sitting in the pews, to gently drop some words of wisdom in my spirit from time to time. It’s valuable to hear what God says from someone other than my own perspective.
[My 5 minutes of free writing are up!]
Lone Rangers need Tontos
In the end, I believe having a caring group of people interested in your journey can make a difference. After all, how we spend our journey equals the sum of our life. Do we spend it as a Lone Ranger? Or do we enjoy the wisdom and camaraderie of companions?
I vote for community.
This post was written in response to the prompt, “accountability” at Five Minute Friday, a community where writers gather to free-write for 5 minutes on a prompt.
I’m also linking to the communities at Grace & Truth, Inspire Me Monday, Remember Me Monday Tell His Story, InstaEncouragements Link-Up, Let’s Have Coffee, Recharge Wednesday