by: Staci Stallings
We’ve all heard it said that God works in mysterious ways. I think some of His ways are more mysterious than others.
Take, for example, the strange case of the Bomb Cyclone and its effect on this author’s life.
Our story starts on March 8, the first day of Spring Break around here. As per the usual routine, said author’s family goes to the mountains skiing, leaving said author all alone for the weekend with Mexican food and movies (said author + mountains = inevitable trip to the ER because of breathing problems).
So, so far-so good.
Family arrives back home on Monday night and Tuesday we start to dig out from under all of the ski stuff they brought home and dropped in the floor of the kitchen, dining and living room. (We were not successful at cleaning said areas before Wednesday arrives.)
Here’s where the story takes a very strong detour toward an alternate destination we had not anticipated nor scheduled into our Spring Break plans. It begins Wednesday morning with a very strong wind. (Think hurricane or tornado force minus the hurricane or tornado. This is straight-line winds sustained at 65+ with gusts in the 85+ range…. ALL. DAY. LONG.)
Just before noon, the very strong wind did a huff-and-puff and it blew the transformer out. But the very strong wind was not done—oh, no, it was NOT DONE.
The very strong wind then got even stronger, and by nightfall, 18,000 people were without power, and traffic on multiple roads was a mess because of semis tipped over and vehicles flipped over and power lines down (you see where we’re going with this, right? Suffice it to say, it was no longer our little transformer that they had to fix).
Hunkered down in her now very cold house with no water, no heat, and no lights, said author did what any sane person would do—she started a fire and found a good book. And there she stayed for three long days.
The first book had been a recommendation by said author’s middle daughter. It was called “Off the Page.” The plot was intriguing—a character in a book, a handsome prince mind you, comes to life for one very special reader, a young girl who has fallen in love with him. In “Off the Page,” the prince is now out of the book and trying to adjust to real life. Intriguing 370 page book that took about 20 hours to read. That 20 hours was called “Wednesday.”
When that book was finished on Thursday morning, there was still no heat and no water (I’m convinced, I could do no lights if the heat and water worked, but without those two, it’s just MISERABLE). Trying not to move around too much because it was now unbelievably cold, said author began the first book in the series “Between the Lines” (some daughters don’t really care that mothers like to read books in order!).
Now, it’s Thursday and then it’s Friday.
The second book is finished when the power finally comes back on Friday afternoon.
So, lo and behold, who would have thought it, but those two books are going to factor BIG TIME into the next book I’m going to write! (I’m about halfway through Book #6 in The Imagination Series, and then we get to Book #7…. The finale, the one that I’ve been struggling to figure out HER backstory for. And now, God used a power outage that lasted 3+ days to shape and mold my character in my head and heart for Book #7. And I LOVE HER NOW!!! I can’t wait to write her story, which is odd because I’ve been dreading it for over a year now.)
So there you go, God’s ways really are mysterious. I am curious though, do you think He planned that Bomb Cyclone with the 65+ mile per hour winds so that it would knock out our power so I would have nothing else to do than to read those two books (which honestly, I would have never gotten around to reading without the power going off)?
Well, do you?
Check out the New Release in
The Imagination Series
BROKEN HEART STRINGS
A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. Although she lives in Amarillo, Texas and her main career right now is her family, Staci touches the lives of people across the globe with her various Internet and writing endeavors.
It sounds like it was meant to be.
HI Staci, maybe not planned, but used!!
Blessings:)
Hi Staci! As a Midwesterner, I can relate with your Bomb Cyclone reading adventure. Thanks for sharing. God definitely works in mysterious ways, even using the weather. Best wishes. Hope Spring is in the air in your neck of the woods. Weather, temperature wise, in SW Michigan still cannot make up its mind. At least it is sunny after weeks of gloom. Best wishes.
It reminds me of the verse in Romans about all things working together for good for those that love Christ. :)
It feels like it was!
God bless, Mary, and thanks for stopping by!
At least not planned by ME!
God bless, Wemble! Have an awesome day!
Hey, Renate,
I live in Texas where the weather never makes up its mind. Right now, we’re in nice sunny weather but over the weekend, we had hail and ended up in our basement for a tornado. Crazy stuff!
Thanks for stopping by & have a great day!
I LOVE that verse! It’s one of my favorites and it reminds me not to get too wrapped up in how things “have” to be for them to be “right.” Sometimes our “right” is not the same as God’s “right.” That’s important to remember!
Have a blessed & wonderful day!
Goes to show, inspiration can be found anywhere at all!
Wow. Well as you say, God works in mysterious ways. Sometimes he has to hit us over the head with a two by four to get our attention for something. Am so glad you were able to allow God to work in your life. This is a wonderful reminder to all of us reading your post.
Brrrr! I hate winter and I’ve been through a couple “power outage” situations as well. But I’m glad you had a positive outcome, and hopefully, no frost bite!
He works good out of all situations.
It just goes to show that God will bless us even in the tough times – like the no water and no power times! :)
God always has his reasons!
Those moments when you realize how it all played out exactly as God had planned are AMAZING. We went through the cyclone bomb here in MI as well. Lost bits and pieces off buildings and our house, but otherwise no power lost! I only wish I had gotten as many books read as you. :)
You’ve just got to keep your eyes and ears open!
I think that’s one of the things I have learned…. pay attention BEFORE He needs the 2 X 4 to get my attention! HAHAHAHH! (Far less painful, that’s for sure!)
No frost bite! Did wind up with the stomach bug courtesy of my hubby and son. BLECH. It’s been a “fun” Spring Break! (Who thought this was a good idea anyway?)
Very good to keep remembering… especially in the trials.
All times are in His hands…. the trick is to remember that! :)
God bless and thanks for stopping by!
That He does! Always have to remember, God’s way works, my way doesn’t. :D
HAHHAH! I was just out driving today, and the amount of damage still visible is everywhere–roofs without shingles, some places without roofs, signs blown down or heavily damaged, poles down… That thing was wicked!
But even in the midst of the storm, God is AMAZING!
Hi Stacy. I’ve often had thoughts like that regarding weather. Hurricanes in particular. So, I’m in the wondering category myself. I like Val’s comment–inspiration can be found anywhere. I’m glad it worked out. I know first hand about having a heroine without a backstory-it’s a thrilling feeling to have it all worked out, isn’t it?
Around here, we have tornadoes rather than hurricanes. :) But yes, very familiar with how “events” can change the course of everything, and you have to be prepared to see the inspiration and value, otherwise you get caught in a lot of frustration.
I’m getting “downloads from the Clouds” seemingly every day on this upcoming book. Very nice rather than just having a not-even-very-vague idea!
God bless and thanks so much for stopping by!