“Reality,” that’s a term that gets tossed around a lot these days. Self-help experts tout it, authors comment on it, politicos pontificate on it and television has umpteen channels devoted to it. You know, reality TV. I must admit that I have become a connoisseur of many of these shows: I love “Gold-Rush,” “Mick Dodge” the guy who lives in the rain-forest of the Olympic peninsula, “Ax Men,” “American Ninja Warriors,” “Moonshiners” and I was even watching “Hollywood Hillbillies” until it went off the air. These shows fascinate me and yes, I know that they’re not actually 100% reality! There’s the cutting room floor and prodding from the producers. They’re kind of like potato chips, though, catch one episode and you just have to see the next one.
As writers, what do you consider to be reality and does it have a place in what you put on the page? The first thing to think about would probably the definition of reality in today’s world. We have moved to a place in our society where everyone seems to have their own definition of reality and that seems to be O.K. It’s perfectly clear: Reality is what pleases me and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Politeness has “left the building” and if something hurts anyone else’s feelings, so what. File a lawsuit!
As a writer, you should be clear that this myopic definition of reality is completely backwards. This is a view that is rooted in self and then reaches out into the world. As a person of faith, our reality is just the opposite. For the believer reality begins in the Living God and then trickles down to everything else. Scripture teaches it this way:
“Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God. Encourage yourselves daily while it is still ‘today,’ so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end” (Heb 3: 9-14).
Reality, then, begins when we become aware that we are in a partnership with God. If we are clear about that, our perspective shifts. When you write, be clear that you are not writing alone and that the reality of what winds up on the page comes from who you are in Christ. Not everyone is in the same place in the spiritual life. It’s not a matter of how spirituality sophisticated you are. It does not matter if you are very familiar with the language of scholarly theology or not. What matters is the idea that you understand the only things which are real are those rooted in your partnership with Christ.
If you remember that, the very presence your writing will speak and teach others that all of the glitz, glam and ego being expressed in the world is simply false. As a purveyor of true reality you actually have the power to change perspectives and lives. Be proud of your partnership and be always ready to respectfully disagree with the things that many mistakenly call reality in today’s world. For you, Catholic writer, that’s an awesome reality!
KathrynCunningham
Kathryn is a retired junior high teacher. A convert with a love for the Church she believes that its teachings have a more than viable application for today's world. She writes practical theological for the people in the pews believing that they have as much right to good catechesis as our youth and converts. Her writings appear on Catholic web sites and local Church publications. She has even been published in the diocese of Australia and most recemtly Zenit. Kathryn holds a Master's in Theology and is a certified spiritual director. Learn more about Kathryn at: www.atravelersview.org
Never before in the history of the human species has so much information and misinformation sallied into the light. Opinion trumps fact, and “truth” falls to the highest bidder. Let’s pray that the “voice of one crying in the wilderness” will prepare the way of the Lord, especially in this time of discord.