Today I was asked by a dear friend, "Have you always wanted to be a writer?" (Shout out Dannett! I'll holla!)
The answer there is a big, fat nope. Don't get me wrong, I've always written. It's been a constant in my life since I first put crayon to paper. I loved creating stories to escape into where anything was possible and the unimaginable mingled with reality. But when elementary school Stacey was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up the answer wasn't an author. Actually back then I think I still wanted to be Jessica Rabbit. (I won't lie, if that was viable career choice I'd sign up for it today.)
The way I see it God has a plan for all of us, and he's just waiting for us to quit banging our heads against the wall and give His idea a try. In my head I visualize him as Chevy Chase for some reason. Hands behind his back, rocking back and forth from the balls of his feet to his toes.
"You about done there? No? Oh, you're gonna do that now." Raises his eyebrows and looks away. "Yeah, that's gonna end well. Give that a try. But when you're done, I'll be here...waiting...still."
I didn't plan to be a writer. But when story ideas came that I couldn't ignore--that I felt passionate enough about to risk the rejections, and see them through the long road to publication--then I knew. I may not have planned to be a writer. But I am one.
The passionate flame that is instilled in us all is there to guide us. To show us what road we're meant to travel. Sure we steal the map from time to time and try to find an alternate route, but sooner or later we'll get where we're supposed to be. The plan we're meant for will be there when we're ready for it. Unlike the real Chevy Chase who'd look at his wrist and exclaim, "Oh! I gotta thing!"
