John Mason wrote, “You were born an original. Don’t die a copy.”

Profound, isn’t it?

The memorable are not those who are “just like” somebody else, but those who stand out in significant, even if small ways.

An unsuccessful author is the one who wants to write exactly like John Grisham. We already have one of those. Don’t need a copy.

A successful author might write John Grisham-ish novels but from the perspective of the judge. Or the courtroom janitor.

Readers aren’t looking for another book “just like” The Secret Life of Bees. They’re looking for one that evokes the same emotions but in a different setting with different characters facing different conflicts.

The Lord isn’t looking for me to turn out “just like” my pastor’s wife or “just like” my best friend or “just like” Beth Moore. He hand-turned each of us. Hand-molded. Built each of us from scratch, not from a rubberized mold.

We share commonalities. But He created us uniquely…down to our very DNA, which when you think about it speaks volumes to the importance He places on our NOT being exactly like anyone else.

How much time do we waste trying to look like, sound like, write like, pray like someone else?

We were born originals. May we not end life a mere copy.

Except in one respect. My longing is that when life is over, people will call me a Jesus Copycat.

For writers: What is it about your writing that distinguishes it from that of your favorite authors, the ones you long to emulate? Is that distinguishing mark clear enough for readers and editors to find significant? Significantly wonderful?

For readers: New photocopiers pride themselves on making copies that are practically indistinguishable from the original. What in your life is growing closer to an exact duplicate of a character trait of Jesus? Your quickness to obey? Your compassion? Your giving spirit? Your surrender to the will of the Father? It’s something to think about.