Evotional.com - Mark Batterson

It's t-minus 3 days till In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day comes off the press. Just wanted to share a few thoughts on this writing journey.

Looking in the rearview mirror I'm amazed at the supernatural syncronicities. It started with lunch with Brian McLaren in early 2005 and he happened to bump into an agent at a conference and mentioned my name.

Long story short, I landed an agent who really helped open publishing doors. I don't take that kind of thing for granted. You can't manufacture divine appointments. Only God can set them up. And He's set up lots of them.

It took thirteen years for my writing dream to become reality. And I got more and more frustrated as the years passed. But there is such a sense of destiny at this point. I honestly have no idea how many copies my book will sell. And that isn't why I write. I write for intrinsic reasons. And I honestly trust God. Writing a book is a huge exercise in faith! It's sort of like church planting. If you build it they will come. In the same sense, if you write it they will read. I know this for sure: I feel as called to write as I do to pastor. I really feel like October 2, 2006 begins a new chapter.

We take for granted those things that come easy so I'm glad this was an uphill climb! It makes me rely on God. I've really tried to approach writing the same way I approach pastoring: work like it depends on you and pray like it depends on God. Then let the chips fall where they may!

I hope women readers will forgive me for saying this, but it feels like I'm having a baby and the due date is Monday. Pretty exciting to cut the umbilical cord and let this book take on a life of it's own.

Thanks for letting me reflect :)