Let’s Start Over..

Friendships are such a gift. 

For someone who has spent a lot of time struggling with identity and self-worth, I’ve discovered that they can make or break you. Maybe that’s not really how it’s supposed to be, but that’s been my experience.

I had a call with a friend the other morning. A dear friend who knows all of the ugly parts of me, yet loves me the same. She called me out, in such a loving and kind way. About this blog, specifically. 

You see, I used ChatGPT to create this entire website. I started the conversation (with ‘Chat’) by saying I wanted to start a blog and had no idea how to build a website. ‘Chat’ asked me about the heart behind the website, trying to get to the why. And when it did? It wrote a beautiful piece about my heart for Whispers in the Chaos. 

Ethically, I didn’t know where I stood with that. So, as I am so accustomed to doing, I went to ‘Chat:’ “Is this ethical? Should I make a note that you wrote this?” And it made a good point:

All it did was take my thoughts and make them sound more eloquent. 

Essentially, it took my word vomit and made it look like a 5-course meal. I filtered that through my husband and some of my friends.. and I got a lot of wisdom in return. 

‘Chat’ can’t be writing my blog posts. Then it’s not really mine, even if the ideas came from me.

So, after the first post, I asked ‘Chat’ to be my editor. No more ghostwriting, just editing and helping with the flow. It would ask me questions on a certain topic, to which I would respond to all of them at one time. It’d pick out some good things to go further in and then prompt me to write the first, ugly draft. After that, I’d “submit it for review” and keep working until we had the final piece. I felt good about this! I was learning how to write and structure a piece.. 

But, in the back of my mind, there was a question of.. “Is this really mine if I continue to let ‘Chat’ take the lead?” 

And then, my conversation with my friend the other morning. With so much love, care, and respect she laid out her concerns for me. She was gracious and kind, yet blunt, which is exactly what I needed. She gave me other resources I could use to help edit my work as well as offered her own self to edit! What a gift!! 

At the core of her concern? She was worried for me and my work because I live my life with a lot of authenticity. And is filtering everything through AI really authentic? Sure, they’re my words, stories, and ideas but the flow may not be mine.. 

Do I want to grow my writing that badly that I would take shortcuts? 

I don’t want that to be my story.

Am I nervous that I won’t write anything as eloquent now that ‘Chat’ won’t be assisting me? Absolutely. 

Am I expectant for what the Lord will do in place of that? 100%

Because this friend also asked, “I wonder what would happen if, instead of asking ChatGPT for questions to answer, you sat with Jesus for 30 minutes, asking Him what He wants you to write.”

Big woof. (For those of you who don’t know me, you can’t hear me saying that. Basically, that hit a little too close for comfort.)

So, here I am. Trying to fulfill my own deadline of getting another post up by the end of the week. 

Moving forward, these writings are mine, with the editorial help of hemingwayapp.com and my dear, dear friend. No promptings from ChatGPT and no editing by AI. 

I want to be transparent, authentic, and honest. I don’t want to walk around with the idea that people may be questioning my integrity, especially in my writings and what God is teaching me. So, you have my word, from here on out. 

Thanks for being here. I pray that God blesses you and touches your heart today. 

Until next time..