Monday, February 23, 2015

Walking your Path


When I wrote The Mulligan, my husband and I were living in uncertain times. He was attending golf school because he felt he needed to expand his options for a career, Our path was not too clear but we forged ahead.

Some days I feel that way about writing. Last week, I was amazed when my book hit the Amazon bestseller list for Religious Romance at #26. It remained in the top 100 for a few days and then the steady decline began. I found myself watching the numbers when I should be trusting that God has a better plan than me than checking my sales every few hours.

Like me, the main character, Bobbi, had an inkling she wasn't doing what she should do but misplaced loyalty drove her to make choices that didn't fare well.

How often do we do the same in real life? I'm the kind of person who wants to take charge and fix everyone's problems. I'm slowly learning to wait and trust the plan God has for my life. Even if it means life gets ugly and painful.

What path are you walking today? Is it one of your own choosing or have you waited on God?


9 comments:

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Walking the path God sets out for us is a lesson most of us unfortunately have to learn again and again.

Anonymous said...

I love the photograph. What a beautiful, peaceful, warm green scene. I'd rather look at such a scene than the snow scene outside my window.

I have learned not to try to fix everyone's problems. I can only fix my own. Sounds like you have traveled well, knowing there is indeed a plan for each one of us; that God is at the helm.

That's wonderful how long your book stayed high on the charts. I've done that too, obsessively looked at sales, or in my case where it is in the rankings. Your book sounds intriguing, so I'm now going to take a look at it.

Anonymous said...

I just bought it. I'm excited to read it.

Kenda Turner said...

I'm walking a path of a first draft when time (as always!) seems at a premium :-) But trusting the time is right for this season anyway...I haven't read The Mulligan yet but I will and I'm looking forward to it. Wishing you great success. (I'm sure I'd battle how often I'd check sales, too...!)

Sally Chambers said...

I love how you drill down to the small things that affect your writing experience and share them. You seem to find a tiny dark spot and cast a light on it that never fails to uplift my faith. Thanks for this insight on waiting and trusting God for His plan . . . always. I’m still on the path of “wait and trust” after having prayed, trusted, and chosen the direction of my novel-under-contract. ☺

Great Grandma Lin said...

good advice for all of us...

Jeanette Levellie said...

I believe I am walking the path God wants for me, even though all hell has broken loose in the last few months. I suppose that's one way to know you are doing God's will--the devil gets mad!!!

Karen Lange said...

I need to do more waiting and listening. I wonder if as a whole, we don't take enough quiet time with God, you know? Good reminder, thank you. :)

Anonymous said...

You hit where I am at exactly Terri! Am I spending my time, and putting my efforts in where God wants me to? Is writing where He wants me to focus. It's like I want a big red sign showing up on my bathroom mirror in the morning and a guarantee it is going to work out. But maybe my definition of success is different than His? A bestseller? Or an article that only one person reads but who God wanted to read it? Which one is more 'successful?'

PS I did pick your book up on Amazon.ca and reading! Thank you!