"Mel Untethered": A Holy moment in my Car

E. Lily Yu's book "Break, Blow, Burn, and Make" inspired me to have courage.

A couple of years ago, someone told me I was “untethered” at work “In a good way.” I told her I could be untethered at work because I am tethered to God. It gave me an idea for a series I’d like to introduce for this newsletter called “Mel Untethered.” It simply means I will write what is in my head and heart with minimal editing. I have found that I enjoy the practice of writing. It’s fun to find precise words and add quotes or research that rounds out an essay, but sometimes it’s nice to be untethered, to say plainly what is on my heart. So, will you journey with me today? I’m reaching out my hand to you—you can grab it and fly with me or stay home with Nana. It’s up to you.

Here we go.

I planned to write a delightful newsletter with recommendations on some beautiful and challenging essays I’ve read on Substack and some random stuff I like. What kept me from writing my planned letter, you ask? Or maybe you’re not asking—perhaps I lost you at “Nana.” But for those of you still reading, I’ll tell you—courage. Sometimes, God speaks to me through other people; other times, it’s through whispered prayer; this time, it was through a book. As I shared in my “Extra Sauce” section in a past newsletter, I am listening to E. Lily Yu’s newest book titled Break, Blow, Burn, and Make.

This book is special. This is one of those books I will continuously revisit for guidance and encouragement on writing. I know it will help me become a better writer. The book also speaks to my faith in Jesus Christ, making it a precious read. Even though I wrote on Facebook for seven years, I consider myself a fledgling writer. On Facebook, I was bleeding pain all over the page in most of my posts. On Substack, I’ve just stepped out of my nest and am peering at the world of writing for the first time.

This is not a review of the book because I’m too nervous. How can I describe a book that so beautifully describes itself? Trust my recommendation: If you are a new or seasoned creator of any kind, you must read this book. Okay? I will wait for a second for you to download it on your phone, purchase it from your favorite bookseller, or check it out of the library.

Ready? Great. Let’s continue.

Now, on to courage. I was minding my own business and driving to work as usual. In the final ten minutes of my commute, the book discussed courage. Yu not only talks about and defines it but also takes the reader on a journey. By the end of the chapter, I felt like I had gone on a treasure hunt to find courage. She writes,

“There is a cost to cowardice as well, It is the persistent and inescapable awareness of one’s failure to act, to answer the summons, to become more perfectly oneself. If that cost is set beside the cost of courage, the decision seems less staggering, even reasonable. I have learned to move toward courage, however sickening the sensation, because no matter how unhappy I am about whatever I must pay, I do not regret it afterward, whereas I regret my failures to act without courage and integrity for years thereafter.”¹

The chapter inspired me so much that I felt a renewed resolve to be courageous in my writing and living.

After I settled in my office for the day, I perused the news and my personal email, per usual, and there it was—the call to courage. “They want to speak with you,” it said, “How would you like to proceed?” Instant nausea. I wanted to throw up and write back, “Nope, nope, nopey, nope.” Cue Dana Carvey’s impersonation of George H. W. Bush—“Not gonna do it.”

Here’s the thing, though: five minutes before, the Holy Spirit had already spoken to me about this through Yu’s book. The Comforter had prepared me for this moment. Though my initial reaction was, “It’s time to throw up and say no,”  I knew I had to step out with courage and accept this task.

Reader, knowing my situation is not as important as highlighting this beautiful way God works. I—this little old fledging writer who barely picked up a non-fiction book before I was 42, who used to think that the Bible was the only way I would hear the voice of God—was encouraged by another believer through her writing for this very moment when I would read that email and be confronted with having the courage to do something so the truth can be revealed.

That is God, my friends. He is glorious. He takes my breath away again and again. He cares, loves, encourages, protects, and calls —and uses the most creative ways to do it. I’m scared, yet I know I have a God who tells me, “Fear Not.” As Yu states,

“I have to trust that God will give me what I need to complete the task at hand, whether book or life, if I but ask. I do these things in doubt, in fear, in trembling, in darkness, sometimes in bitterness and despair, But I do them.”²

Thank you, God, and I tip my hat to you, E. Lily Yu.

Extra Sauce

• The three weeks before school are always the busiest during the summer. I have set a goal to be consistent in releasing this newsletter weekly, so I came up with the idea of sharing portions of papers I wrote in seminary for the next three weeks. I promise it won’t be boring.

• The next few days will be very long as I take my son to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and an appointment back in Columbus. Both are pretty lengthy appointments. I’m not sleeping well. Will you pray for us through the end of this week and into the weekend, as my husband will be out of town with our girls, and I will be with the boy by myself? He is total-care, so pray for patience and strength for me.

1. Yu, E. Lily. Break, Blow, Burn, and Make: A Writer’s Thoughts on Creation. New York, NY: Worthy, 2024. 154.

2. Ibid, 158.