Editor’s
note: Each month, the CCW blog features one of our members. This month, John
Cowgill reflects on the stories that unfold around him.
By John Cowgill
Life is a series of stories, but only a few are ever written
down. Each story is different from the other. Each one’s story begins at birth,
and the story does not end until the day life ends. The stories are fast-paced
and slow-paced, but every story has meaning to someone—from large crowds to
just one person. It can be a novel, a short story, a journal or a poem. No
story is a waste.
As I go about my day, I observe stories happening all around
me. As I see these stories unfold, I see more stories unfold within them. They
are stories with happy endings and sad endings. They are about heroes and
sacrificial people who inspire us and losers who depress us.
In elementary school, I discovered the joy of writing
stories. Unfortunately, my stories were met with much discouragement from many teachers
and acquaintances. But there were bright spots of encouragement from those who
looked forward to what I had written. During high school, I withdrew from
writing stories, from everyone, really. At that time, I felt God leading me to write
particularly films, but there were no opportunities. Both my school and church had
closed the doors to movies.
My interest in motion pictures led to my being banned from
that church. However, at another church, I saw opportunities unfolding before
my eyes. I started writing stories to promote activities, and people liked
them. Some asked me to write one an Easter Pageants for the church. Although
the choir members supported my pageant, the music leaders tossed it without
reading it. It bothered me at first, but at that time, I did not see what God
was seeing. Now I do.
I changed churches again, to one more receptive to my
writing. I later joined the Fellowship of Christian Filmmakers. I am now part
of NoVa Christian Film, and many different writing groups. I’m a graduate of
the Long Ridge Writing School Short Story program. I regularly write railroad
articles for the D.C. Examiner.
