Rejection

So yesterday I received yet another rejection letter for my manuscript. I've lost count how many publishing houses I've sent it to. The first response I received for my first manuscript almost 4 years ago now was very helpful to me. They not only told me they couldn't publish my story, but they told me what I did wrong with it. When I started writing again I made sure to follow all of their guidelines, being careful not to repeat my mistakes. From there on all responses made mention of their liking to my writing style although they couldn't publish my story because of a market related issue, or a discontinued imprint that would have been suitable or the latest, my location which would make shipping books to my country financially unfeasible.

I was wallowing in pity while praying yesterday when I realized that the problem isn't with me or my writing anymore, the problem is with them. They are the ones that don't have enough resources to accommodate me. Of course this does not by all means imply that I have perfected the craft of writing, I'm far from it. My point is, God helped me realize that me being rejected was nothing personal. It was not a reflection of my inabilities nor an expression of who I am. In fact, it's the other way around, it's their weakness that's the problem this time.

This is true for many people out there, qualified and sometimes even over-qualified for the jobs and promotions they seek but no company can accommodate them  because there just aren't enough resources to make space for them at moment. In fact companies are letting go of people instead of letting them in. If you're this person, understand that the problem isn't with you, it's with the system. But know that you have the power to overcome the system if you keep seeking and knocking and if you use this time to learn and grow; to find yourself, to get as much experience in your log as possible, even if it means volunteering.

Joseph (OT) and David used their time well before coming into power. The one gained management skills and grew in his spiritual gift while the other gained experience in fighting animals which prepared him for a life time of fighting Goliaths. Also remember to think outside of the box, to use whatever resources you have at your disposal. I started this blog so I could expose my writing to an audience.

I then read about Jephtah in the book of Judges.
"Jephtah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. Gilead's wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephtah away. 'You are not going to get any inheritance in our family', they said, 'because you are the son of another woman.' So Jephtah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him." Judges 11:1-3

Jephtah was man of ability when it came to war but faced rejected from his brothers. But because their rejection didn't mean he was less of a leader, others saw it in him and followed him in the middle of nowhere. He had taken rejection personally, hence he fled, but he realized when these adventures gathered around him and followed him that he had everything it took to be what he wanted to be. And the time spent leading these adventures prepared him for the time he would spend as head and commander over Gilead.

So chin up, get back in the game. You have a fighting chance, you have what it takes, rejection isn't always a reflection of you.