A Divine Detour

Guest Blog by Kathy Harris

Proverbs 19:21 You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. NLT

When I was seven years old, I had my life planned. I would marry, have two kids, and write books. Seems simple enough, but God had other plans. Despite working hard in the pursuit of my dreams, one would eventually be denied, and the others would linger for many years.

After high school, with my writing goal still intact, I went off to college to study journalism and English. When I graduated with a Communications degree three years later, no writing job awaited me. Instead, I had an unforeseen opportunity to move to Nashville for an entry-level position in the music industry. It was an exciting prospect, so I put my writing goals on hold and moved to Tennessee.

For a while, I supplemented my income by writing artist bios and magazine articles. Eventually, however, my full-time job became an all-consuming career, leaving little room for other things. In time I married, but the dream of having children of my own proved elusive. Even the adoption process failed us. Although I beseeched and questioned God, He never allowed my faith to fail. He carried me through that difficult time—and many others that followed—with the promise that He would always be there for me.

Despite disappointments, my life was full and as the years passed I almost forgot my dream of writing. Almost. But the spark of it remained within me. A God-inspired spark, I believe . . . because five years ago I completed my first novel.

Since then, I’ve had a few non-fiction successes and a whole lot of fun in the process of learning the craft of fiction. Finally (with more than a little help from friends and fellow writers who have encouraged me) an agent signed my second manuscript, and I’m beginning to see the possibility of publication.

As I look back on my life from the span of three decades, I now see that my God-directed detour provided me with the unique experiences I needed to write my books. I now understand that the best way to reach my goal was through His plan, not mine. That His timing is perfect, not mine. And that, even though my path may have been diverted, He has been walking with me every step of the way.

Kathy Harris is a marketing director in the country music industry. She enjoys writing redemptive women’s fiction and blogging about the divine detours of fellow writers and music industry professionals. Check out her website at www.DivineDetour.com.