to write or not to write. that is my question.

I received a message from a great friend this week. She always lifts me up and gives me encouragement just when I need it most. In evaluating the past two+ years of my life, her synopsis is that God is preparing me for something bigger. Devotional writing, perhaps? I don't know where this path leads, but I am open to finding out.

I'm reading a book right now called When God Winks at You: How God Speaks Directly to You Through the Power of Coincidence by SQuire Rushnell. It's filled with quick little stories from real people who have experienced a "godwink" - a moment of coincidence that's really God answering (or not answering, as the case may be) your prayer, or sending you a message. For example, there's a godwink tale from Rudy Giuliani regarding the news of his prostate cancer sidelining him from the Senate race for New York. Why him and why then? God needed him to remain in the mayoral seat for NYC when 9/11 was to come about. Mayor Giuliani was the voice that calmed America after that attack. He was right where God wanted him to be.

As I read this book, I stop to reflect and try hard to remember if I've had any godwinks. I'm still coming up empty, so if any of you, my friends, can recall a moment that I've shared with you, I'd really love to hear them. I just thought of one while writing this!

I was pretty much set to pursue a music degree in college. I was a flutist (not a flautist), had succesfully tried my hand at writing simple music, and could direct a band after two years of serving as drum major. I had already picked my college and was accepted. West Virginia University's marching band, The Pride of West Virginia, was tops and would be awarded the coveted Sudler Trophy during my graduation year in 1997. Everything was falling into place, but then God had a placement of His own - someone who saw a gift in me that I didn't see. Laura Harrawood was my English teacher and she asked me to be the Editor of the school newspaper, The Prowler. I was ecstatic and scared. With that unexpected door being opened and her full support to move ahead, I changed direction.

In the fall of 1997, I began my freshman year at WVU and took the Journalism Qualifying Exam (JQE) for the "J School" - The Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism - and passed on the first try. It wasn't a difficult test, but I heard that there were plenty of students who didn't pass. I began on the Public Relations tract but switched over to Advertising when the PR professor was too much of a pain in my rear. Oh, little did I know that his real concentration was ADV and that I'd end up with him every year by changing tracts.

So to fast-forward ... I graduated, I had a few stepping-stone jobs along the way, I'm in a writing job now, and as it turns out (possibly another godwink?), my CEO is a WVU PI Reed School of Journalism alumna, too. Wonder what's next down this path? I'm so excited to find out!