Do I Want to Be Safe? Or Trust?

I’ve always wondered… could I be a full-time author, writer, and speaker?

Could I gain enough interest and schedule enough paying speaking gigs to make it?

Could I get enough freelance writing or editing work to fill in the gaps?

I don’t know. It’s not something I seriously considered because having a “real” job has been more reliable.

It’s safe.

Until it isn’t.

In the past two years, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to present at or participate in nearly 150 events for my book, and even more fortunate that I rarely asked for any of them. I simply didn’t have the time or capacity to be my own booking agent and pound the pavement to find opportunities. That's because my "real" job was my first priority.

It was all word of mouth.

Admittedly, most of those events weren’t paid, or they barely covered my expenses. It was just a passion of mine. Let’s just say that being an author and speaker is not a lucrative career. That’s why I had a “real” job.

But what if I pursued opportunities? What if I finish my next book?

What if?

I’m about to find out. After nearly nine years with my employer, I’m without that “real” job and have some big decisions to make. I’m not frantically rushing into the next thing just yet and trusting God to open the next door.

And maybe, just maybe He’s not opening a door this time. Maybe He’s shoving me through, stepping over the threshold with me, and closing the door behind us so I don't retreat to safety, and trust Him instead.

If you need a speaker, know of a book club, event, or freelance opportunity, please reach out. Meanwhile, I’m reflecting on the words of C.S. Lewis in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe…

"Safe? Who said anything about safe? 'Course He isn't safe. But He's good. He's the King, I tell you!"