Has life ever thrown you a curve ball? Ever felt like you
were thrust off course?
The detours God puts in our path don’t usually take us on a
road that is wide and paved and easy. Most often those detours not only intrude
on our plans, very often they derail us down to the core and challenge who we
really are. What we believe. Where our strength really comes from.
Often times when I am writing a story there comes a point
(okay, sometimes more than once) when I feel like the characters or the plot
starts to veer in a dangerous direction. Someplace uncertain. Scary. Not what I
had planned at all. How will I find my way out of that mess? How will the
characters navigate the challenges without completely falling apart.
Whether in real life or in fiction, this is where we test
our metal and see what we’re made of. THIS is where the story really lies.
I’ve shared recently about an unexpected twist in our family
plan. Life plan. Survival plan. Now, it’s hard to see a baby as anything but a
blessing. Especially when the circumstances are so miraculous (God is quite the
storyteller, is He not?) But what could
be seen as a life-threatening detour, is really an incredible adventure. An
amazing story of God’s work in my life. A challenge that is testing me in so
many ways and proving that my story isn’t yet over. That God’s plans, however
different from my own, are ALWAYS for my good, even when the road is rocky and
uncertain.
I'd love your perspective: What adventures in your own life have been birthed from an
unexpected detour? Or when you write, whether you're a plotter or a pantster, do you venture into those unknown
fissures of uncertainty, or do you stick to the roadmap you’ve meticulously
planned? And in which instance did you find the beating heart of your story?
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Amy Leigh Simpson writes Romantic Suspense that is heavy on the romance, unapologetically honest, laced with sass and humor, and full of the unfathomable Grace of God. She is the completely sleep deprived mama to two little tow-headed mischief makers and wife to her very own swoon-worthy hero. Represented by the oh-so-wise and dashing Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary Inc.
2 comments:
What a great post, and a super reminder that God is the author of our lives. As such, He plans the unexpected to keep us depending on Him. Thank goodness He's trustworthy!
I'm still rejoicing with and praying for you, Amy.
For me marrying a military man was an unexpected turn. Never thought I'd move three times in the first 2 1/2 years of marriage. Never thought I'd be the mother of two amazing adopted children. Never thought I'd be living my dream of writing books. :)
My story took a few of those turns this summer. I plotted out the characters' external journeys but God told me to trust Him for the relationship journey, which was hard, being the uber-plotter that I am. I had a couple starts and stops in the writing to pray about how my characters were going to "get out of this dilemma," and God brought them through. Funny how He can do that. :)
Oh Jeanne, I love your response! And I love how trustworthy He is with our stories, real and imagined! What a great testimony you have! I am constantly amazed how He works in and through us when He leads us on those journeys off the beaten path! You're the best! Hugs!
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