An Inconvenient Interruption

Let me tell you my story as of this morning.

My website is entitled The Crazy Crooked Path. And my Facebook page has the same title. I am having a blast with both. I love writing blogs. All of my blogs go straight to my Facebook page. In addition to those blogs, I also post my photography along with favorite Bible verses. That’s what gets the most attention. My blogs might get 30 likes if I’m lucky. My photos accompanied by great Bible verses might get 3000 likes. Huge surprise to me.

What led up to this? As most of my faithful blog readers know, I mostly write fiction. I have two and a half historical novels finished and a publishing company interested in my work. But… before I submit, they’ve asked me to grow my online audience. So I stumbled in that direction, not having a clue how to proceed.

One piece of advice was to get a professional Facebook Page. So I did. And I filled it with photos and Bible verses; something I had already been doing on my regular Instagram and Facebook feed because I absolutely love doing it. I can’t help myself! God gave me a deep love of nature and an incurable desire to capture it on camera or in paintings. I get unbelievable satisfaction from combining those images with Bible verses and sharing them with anyone that might pay attention.

So now my online audience is growing by leaps and bounds from doing something I love to do. God’s hand at work, right? I’m happily skipping down this straight, fun, easy path, ready to present my “audience” to this publishing company. My Facebook Page shows over 65,000 people reached and almost 17,000 post engagements. That’s people that like, love or comment. Surely that will impress the CEO of the company.

Then last night it came to a screeching halt! I’ve lost control of my Page! My page, The Crazy Crooked Path, the one I created, treats me like a visitor! A visitor!!! I have no control! I can no longer post anything! What in the world!!!!! I hate Facebook!!!!! This amazing site that allows such freedom to share with the world is also a complicated, mysterious maze! I lodged a complaint and a request for help last night but so far no answers.

The last paragraph was my rant last night, but as I got ready for bed, God calmed me down by gently reminding me of the title of my online ministry; The Crazy Crooked Path. What happened to my Facebook Page is nothing but an inconvenient interruption. God is not at all mystified by the Facebook maze. He can fix this problem. Or He might choose a different path for me.

A Portuguese proverb says, “God writes straight with crooked lines.” How fitting that simple proverb is for my Crazy Crooked Path theme. Life is filled with unexpected twists and turns allowed by God who has the bigger, better picture in mind for all of us. If I can’t rest in His divine plan when something this minor pops up, then how in the world can I trust Him with much bigger interruptions?

Our part at every bend in the road is to trust, pray and watch. Trust that He is indeed at work. Pray because prayer is huge in the unfolding of God’s plans. “We have not because we ask not.” (James 4:2) “The prayer of a righteous person has great power” (James 5:16). And then watch with delight as He unfolds His plans.

Elizabeth Elliot said, “He [God] is far more interested in getting us where He wants us to be than we are in getting there. He does not discuss things with us. He leads us faithfully and plainly as we trust Him and simply do the next thing.” This from a woman whose husband was murdered by the Auca Indians of Ecuador; the very people to which she and her husband had been called. (Read her book Through Gates of Splendor for the whole story.)

I have to wrap up with a favorite Bible passage of many of us:

Proverbs 3:5,6; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”