Hero or Villain?

ACFWAdvice, Characters, Encouragement, Friends of ACFW Leave a Comment

by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD, MFA

I have a friend who writes cozy mysteries. Her favorite quip when she gets annoyed with someone is to say, “Be careful. I may put you in my next novel.”

My friend’s comment provokes some interesting philosophical questions:

• If my friend were to put me in her novel, what kind of character would I be? Would I be a heroine or a villain? If a heroine, why? If a villain, why? How does my friend see me in real life? Am I the kind of character God would want me to be in real life? Do I represent Him well to my friend?

• If I had a choice, what kind of character would I like to be? Would I like to be the lead? A member of the supporting cast? The one who tries to thwart the heroine’s destiny? My answer to this question will reveal much about my own personal character.

• If God were to put me into His story (and He has), how would He see me? Does He see me as a hero who trusts in Him for my strength and victory? Or does He see me as a villain who wants to do things my way instead of His?

While it’s fun imagining what kind of character I would be in my friend’s story, what matters most is what kind of character I am living in God’s story. Am I an obedient disciple who walks in the knowledge of who I am in Christ? Or am I a rebellious child who talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk?

When God writes “The End” to my life, how will He see me? His review will be the only one that matters.MaryAnn Diorio

Dr. MaryAnn Diorio is an award-winning author who writes compelling fiction about the deepest issues of the human heart. She and her husband live in New Jersey and are the blessed parents of two amazing daughters, a wonderful son-in-law, and a beautiful granddaughter. Her latest book is A Christmas Homecoming (Harbourlight Books).

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Copyright 2014 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD, MFA. All rights reserved.

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