Has this ever happened to you:
You want something desperately. You ask for it to arrive. You wait patiently and what you asked for doesn’t come in the form you wanted. Your request takes another shape. As it turns out this NEW shape works out better in the long term than the original request EVER could have.
It’s happened to me multiple times over. Here’s one example:
Back in the mid 1980’s I was working for the State of Connecticut at The Department of Environmental Protection. My base of Operations was Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, Connecticut. I LOVED my job, working outside traveling to different State Parks on a regular basis and getting to see many parts of the state I otherwise wouldn’t have. One park I visited regularly and developed a strong affection for was Chatfield Hollow in Killingworth, Connecticut.
In 1987 a job opened at Chatfield Hollow. I immediately put in my application. Was called back twice for interviews. The fact that I was asked on two occasions to be interviewed boded well, or so I thought. I prayed and asked ALL the time to get this job. It was my most favorite park in the state. As you now know, that job didn’t go to me. Yes, I was disappointed. I wasn’t on the road I’m on now and wasn’t FULLY aware that God was working on my behalf. As I look back at that time in my life I now realize that I’m in a much better place now then I would have been if I stayed at the Department of Environmental Protection.
My initial inclination was to be involved with books. Even from a young age I carried a book with me wherever I went. I was always reading. Loved writing too, as should be evident by this blog. My first thought growing up was that I wanted to write. As it turned out I detoured a bit to the book field. I believe writing as long as I did was a perfect precursor for migrating to the book business. Even now, in my mid forties, I still love my books. I read sometimes two books a week, have done so most of my life so naturally I was drawn to the business. I’m more than happy now with the way my life has turned out and I’m convinced that this is yet another example of something I was meant to do. Even as I tried to detour, working for the Connecticut DEP, working at Stop & Shop, these jobs were all simply preparing me, showing me what I shouldn’t be doing. While I was praying for the job at Chatfield Hollow, my God was throwing up blockades and was detouring me to the library. His plan to move me in that direction took me some time but had I gone down the path sooner I wouldn’t have been prepared. All things in their due time.
Anyone else have similar experiences they would like to share?
For another perspective on this topic see this entry by Bonita Summers
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Chris
Be Happy! Be Well! Be Positive!
