My husband loves to use the GPS device on his phone, so when we went to the Oregon coast the other week, he opted to use that instead of paying for one in our rental car.
As we left the car place, the GPS lady began navigating our way. Though neither of us had been to Portland before, I was SURE Miss GPS had no idea what she was doing. She had us driving up small streets and through residential areas. I kept thinking we just need to get to the freeway – that would be the fastest way to get out of Portland and on our way to the coast.
After what seemed like a crazy list of directions, we eventually did reach the freeway and were on our way.
But that wasn’t the only time the GPS lady led us through what I knew had to be the wrong way. Each time we ended up where we wanted to be, despite what felt like a series of odd turns and roads. (One time she was off by a quarter of a mile – and boy, did I gloat about that!)
So often in life and on this journey to publication, I feel like I did in the car listening to the GPS. I’m doing my best to follow God’s will, but sometimes I think, “this can’t be the right way. Isn’t there a faster road, God, a more direct route to get me where I want to go, to what I want to be?”
But if I can stop and put aside that impatience, I realize no matter the twists and turns, the odd side roads, the detours, in the end I’ll be right where I’m supposed to be – as long as I keep listening and moving forward.
Do use a GPS device for directions, stop and ask someone or just wing it? What detours or side roads in your life have brought about surprising success?
*Jenilyn M. Tolley awarded me the Liebster Award the other week (thanks so much, Jenilyn)! This award is meant to connect us even more and spotlight new bloggers who, at the moment, have less than 200 followers. The rules are:
1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2.Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3.Post the award on your blog.
4.Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the Internet – other writers.
5.And best of all – have fun and spread the karma!
So here’s five blogs I’ve enjoyed reading for a while or newly discovered:
Mark Noce
Peggy Eddleman
Rosslyn Elliott
Canda Mortensen
Kym McNabney
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We're in sync today, Stacy, on our blogs! ha!
I can relate. Congrats on your award. Yay!
Rosslyn rocks!
And I love this analogy. I get it, I so get it. I often find it hard to discern direction in this industry.
~ Wendy
I'll admit I'm not a big GPS fan…I like to use a map and see the big picture before I start the journey. Unfortunately in life, that doesn't always work. 🙂 Love this analogy, Stacy!
Jessica – We are in sync today! Loved your post.
Wendy – Glad to know I'm not alone as I figure this journey out. 🙂
Sarah – I'm more a Google maps kind of girl. 🙂
I admit I still trust maps of GPS, but nonetheless it makes for an adventure either way:)
It's SO SO SO hard to just relax and be guided in one small step at a time. But it really, really is the best way.
Thanks much for the mention of my blog. I've been enjoying yours as well.
Blessings,
Kym
Mark – Going where we hadn't before really was an adventure – and so worth it!
Jolene – I'm working on the relaxing thing, but it takes so much patience. 🙂
Kym – You are very welcome! 🙂
Oh, definitely. Sometimes I just think, "Really? REALLY?" So I feel your pain.
And uh, I use the GPS in my phone all the time! I love it.
Nice! You so deserve this award ~ you are a true friend.
I would be totally lost without my GPS.
SO, on Twitter I follow a certain agent. Well, I stalk her because I have a whole column devoted to her tweets and tweets about her. I have seen SEVERAL people tweet her with "i have a book you would be interested to read!" or something. And I think, how can these people not know you don't query agents on Twitter? THEY are not listening to directions 🙂
Elana – Miss GPS has certainly proved her worth, so I need to get better about trusting her directions. 🙂
She does sometimes say street names funny or says things like "slide left." The DH and I had some good laughs over those.
Ali – Love the "direction" you took this! 🙂 I'm suprised too how many people seem to disregard the instructions agents/editors give.
Dang those GPS machines. They can be wonderful … or not. On a trip to Montana (that included a locale in WIP #1) the GPS had us take 16 MILES on a dirt road. It was a good dirt road as dirt roads go, but my heck! It was still a dirt road!
I am a mapquest kind of girl. I've used the directions thing on my phone a couple of times, seen the little blue pin that shows where I'm and the little red pin that shows where I'm going and think, "My phone is so cool!" Then I put it down, and just drive in that general direction, looking for signs.
I love the analogy!
And thanks so much for awarding me the Liebster! I'm really touched.
Donna – LOL! That's hilarious (probably not at the time, but it makes a great story now!). Sixteen miles on a dirt road is a LONG time.
Peggy – I kept watching those red and blue pins on my hubby's phone while we drove in Oregon and finally had to stop cause it was making me car sick. 🙂
well, at least you'll come out awfully close!
I hate GPS btw. There are times I've wanted it…but I've seen it always steering people wrong!
Thank you, Stacie! That is so nice of you. I actually have more than 200 followers, but something about my blog redesign ate my widget's ability to display the number of followers. Still, I appreciate the award–a nice lift for the day to know you thought of me!
LOL. I'm always arguing with mine, telling her she is wrong. She doesn't listen. Congrats on the award.
GPS makes me crazy, but I enjoyed your analogy. Congrats on the Liebster.
GPS is taking over the world! When did we all surrender our common sense to computers? I loved your interview on Chantele's blog. It's nice to meet you 🙂 I'm a new follower.
Tamara – That reminds me of an episode from The Office when the GPS tells Michael to drive into a lake. 🙂
Rosslyn – I wasn't totally sure on the number but wanted you to know I enjoy your blog!
E. Arroyo – Isn't it funny how they kind of take on a life of their own? Thanks for following!
Cathy – Thanks! The GPS proved it's worth on our trip, so maybe I'll use it more.
Angie – Thanks for following! Speaking of computers and the digital age, I was talking to someone the other day about having a camera with the flash bulbs you stuck on top – no seeing the picture instantly back then.
LOL, my husband is my GPS when we are in downtown Portland and sometimes I think he gets the directions wrong. I know exactly how miss GPS must have taken you. I LOVE downtown and some of those roads are the best, most beautiful places there are. I think that it's that way with God. You think your lost, but He really wants to show you something spectacular.
Jenny – You are so right! The neighborhoods we were driving through were really cute, if I'd only stopped to notice. 🙂
The first time I used a GPS was to go to a conference. It drug me through the roughest parts of town then dumped me in a deserted parking lot of an abandon stipmall near a dirt trail. Hmm. Not the convention center. I've had better luck since then, probably because I learned the importance of the littlest details in the address can make a 15-mile difference in destination. Fine print in the agent's instructions are important to notice.
Thanks for mentioning my blog too!
Canda – That's crazy! What a scary place to end up. Very true about the fine print.