Divine Appointment

Call it fate, coincidence, chance or serendipity. I call it a divine appointment.

Last night I wasn’t even supposed to be in California. My phone shouldn’t have died. And I should have known how to get back to my temporary home in Huntington Beach.

I cancelled a trip to Vegas last minute and chose to go for a run. I stayed for a beautiful sunset and my phone died (must admit, this was irritating). Still getting to know the area, I stopped into a local shop on the way back to base to clarify directions.

The shop manager, Tammy, was quite pleasant and we engaged in a conversation which included directions, charcuterie, and me missing my wife. She asked why I was here and I told her I had built a trip around a series of speaking engagements.

Tammy: “What do you speak about?”

Doug: “Personal growth.”

Tammy: “I knew you were going to say that.”

She shared with me how she had been struggling in several key areas of her life and knew that it was time for a change. She was holding on to pain and regret from a past relationship as well as 80 excess pounds. Her love of music and writing was stifled. Her relationships were suffering. She felt she had lost part of herself.

We talked about how much energy it takes to hold on to the past and how letting go opens up the possibility of something greater. She was holding back tears as she expressed how this encounter was exactly what she needed.

It was a beautiful, authentic, vulnerable conversation. One that potentially changed the course of both of our lives. And it had very little to do with me. I just showed up.

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV)

I stopped by today and dropped off a copy of The Ripple Effect along with a journal, and gave her access to 40 Days of FOCUS. We prayed together.

It’s not about you. Our plans, our dreams, our goals, our strategies are so often all about… us. But we are called to a higher purpose, one that is far greater than our personal ambitions. I am grateful to be gently reminded of this through a divine appointment.

“It’s not about you.” Rick Warren

Your next meeting may just be a divine appointment. One that is uniquely suited for your God-given gifts. One that makes a powerful difference for others. And has very little to do with you. Will you show up?