Thanking God for Directing Our Steps!

I recently returned from Blue Ridge Christian Writer’s Conference where I connected with two amazing soul sisters. Stacy Ladyman and I bonded at a previous writer’s conference, ReNEW, in April. It was a blessing to spend time with her, and am thrilled she published her book! She is searching to understand God’s next steps for her future. Could her book lead to a calling as a speaker? Her book, Shep and the King of Hearts, is about a broken daughter-father relationship, which explores the pain of the head of a family with addiction. Her book lovingly focuses on love and redemption. She has been asked to appear on several podcasts, speaking about the journey of working through hurt to wholeness. I’m excited to cheer her on.

Allison Wicker is an amazing young American woman living in Costa Rica with her husband and two kids. She has worked on humanitarian causes in the past and then paused to pursue motherhood while writing at night. I enjoyed her energy, inquisitiveness, and her quest to find her writer’s path. We encouraged each other the whole week. I accomplished a great deal of work on my novel. I got through most of the edits, giving me genuine hope of finishing this by the end of June. Woohoo!

On my return from the conference on a Friday, I learned that Roger, my husband, had to have an angiogram, which confused us as he has no high blood pressure or cholesterol, and a great stress test. It was scheduled for Monday morning, we went to the hospital, and I believed that this procedure would be a needless exam. Was I ever wrong! The doctor came out fifty minutes later and told me he had to place two stents in his heart, which was 95% blocked, it was the artery that is called the widow maker! WHAT?

I started to cry, blessing the doctor and blessing God. This is my best friend we’re talking about. He assured me that Roger is fine. Through tears I said, “Thank you, God bless you, this is my best friend.” And then the doctor hugged me, “He will be fine.” He has a little pin-prick of a wound where they threaded a little camera and the tube that delivered the stent. How incredible! I am on my knees, thankful. Both of us were in a state of shock for the rest of the day. It has taken me two weeks to write this from a state of awe, tremendous gratitude and being aware of the importance of everyday.

The next morning after this miraculous event, I had to go into the city for a doctor’s appointment. On the way in, I discovered I saved a two-page document for my 300+ page corrected manuscript I worked on for the last two and a half months. WHAT? Panicked, I searched everywhere then visited the Geek Squad, a computer service. And the experts looked. GONE. Nooooooo! Then came all the anger at myself for not being more careful, or saving it twice to a UBS stick. I was thankful I still had the uncorrected copy!

On my train ride home, looking out the window, I thanked God again for directing Roger’s steps! And for the doctor who suggested he have the test, for the doctor who did the procedure, and again for God’s timing! After all, what is important? Nothing more important than that!

I also learned that I had some more research work to do before making my corrections to my novel based on a story in the Old Testament. If I gone ahead and thought I was done, I realized God asked me to study a little more to ensure I tell His story well.

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

I leave you with this prayer, which our minister used as part of her sermon this past Sunday, by Nadia Bolz-Weber. May we see, appreciate, and be grateful for all the blessings we have in life. May we spend our time wisely, knowing:

“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

And when the challenges come, may we know God is with us. SLOW DOWN and be at peace, God is listening and is there for us always.

Dear God,

All I can think of this morning, is please guide my attention to that which is worthy of it.

When I am overwhelmed by everything that has to get fixed in this broken-down world, show me what is MINE to do, then please give me the strength to do it and the humility to rest afterwards.

Open my eyes to behold that which is hopeful and lovely and to know that the terrifying and the malicious will always be there and that looking away for a moment is not callus, but calculating.

Guide my attention to that which is worthy of it: making art, cooking food, loving people, nestling birds, petting dogs, contacting friends, and doing the work that is mine to do.

And when I am scrolling through meaningless videos, once again wasting more precious moments on this Earth than I realize, snap me out of it, Lord, help me just go for a walk or something. Amen.