I have a writing program which reminds me of a movie set where the director gets to call “Cut! Take 2!” I’m not sure, but I believe the “cuts” aren’t deleted until the movie is ready for public viewing. Often, we will see “out takes” of blunders made while filming.

My writing program allows me to do the same thing. When I opened the book I began a few years ago, I needed to remove scenes and reorder some. Last night this part of the work began.

Here’s how my book is structured in the program. There is a column on the right showing each chapter folder and inside each folder are all the named scenes. I also have them coded by color to let me know which point of view the scene is written in.

I added a new folder at the end of all the chapters which says Old Scenes. Then I’m able to move each scene into this folder leaving the chapter folders in their place. Now I’m ready to begin writing new scenes! Later, I will be able to move the “old scenes” back into different places when appropriate. I love not having lost anything during my revision process.

Life doesn’t allow these kinds of massive cuts. Once something is said or done, it is permanent and cannot be deleted or erased. Not by us. But God…

God is the master creator and planner! He is the ultimate author of life! He allows for the sins of our past to be erased through the Jesus Christ. Of course, it doesn’t change the fact that these things happened, the people who were hurt, the damages done, but it gives us a new “take.” Through confessing our sins, asking for forgiveness, accepting Jesus as our Savior, and believing, we begin the process of being changed.

This is what I thought about last night as I worked on my book.