God’s Divine Appointments

Throughout my life, I have known that God has placed people in my path exactly when I needed them.  Whether it was a friend, a mentor, or even a counselor.  There are many people who could have filled these roles, and He knew the specific ones I needed in every circumstance.

Six months ago, I was standing in the house of a family who was in the process of moving to another state.  My day job consists of capturing pictures of houses which will be listed for sale.  And on this particular day, which seemed like every other appointment, I had no idea that I was going to be at the right place at the right time.

The homeowner was present for the pictures and we began chatting because that’s part of what I love about my job.  As we walked from room to room, I learned bits and pieces about their family and where they would be moving to.  And she learned that I had started my new career a year and a half prior to that, as well as the church I attend.

While standing in the living room, I was setting up my tripod to capture the perfect angle, when she stepped around the corner to answer a phone call.  From the corner of the kitchen, I heard her say “I’m also a writer.”  What did she just say, I thought to myself.  I need to ask her about that.  I heard nothing else from her conversation besides those four words.

After she was finished with her phone call, I decided to ask her about it.  “I promise I wasn’t eavesdropping on your conversation”, I assured her.  “Did you say you’re a writer?”

“Yes, I’m a writer and I own a small publishing company where I’m also a writing coach”, she explained to me.

I paused with astonishment.

“Seriously?  I need to chat with you then.”, I told her.

Over the past year I had thought about hiring a writing coach but had no idea where to start looking.  And I was hesitant to just pick a name from the internet.

She inquired about my desire to write a book and wanted to know more about my idea for it.  So, after I had finished capturing all of the pictures of their home, I left with her business card in hand.

I followed up the next day and told her I wanted to know more about her coaching process.  Within a week, and after I convinced myself that I needed to try writing a book, we had a date planned to begin working together.

With everything I’ve told you, there might not be anything that seems out of the ordinary, and it might sound like a coincidence rather than a meeting inspired by God.  But here is why I think this was a divine appointment that only God could orchestrate.

1. The agent that hired me to take the pictures?  That was the first time, and only time, I have worked with him.
2. The phone call?  The phone could have rung before I got there, or after I left.  But it didn’t.  The call came through while I was there.
3. The conversation?  Of all the topics it could have been about, the word “writer” was mentioned.

I still laugh about what transpired that day because I know God put me there for that exact moment.  I had been feeling God’s calling to write my story, but I didn’t know how to begin.  I had even tried starting it a few times.  And on that day, I decided to say “Ok God, I see you working here.  I will take a step of faith and write my story.”

And so I did.  And now the first draft of my book is complete.