It was July 1995. My first job out of college was in Birmingham with
Parisian, the clothing store. I had worked a year in the store and a
year in the Planning Division at corporate. I wanted a sales job.
One
of my best friends, Brad, worked with a company called Gumdrop
Books. His dad helped start the business in the early 70's. Brad had a
sales territory available. Problem was: it was in North Carolina.
From Charlotte to the coast; two counties deep the whole way. It was
the southeastern third of the state.
I was 23 and single. If I
looked at it logically, the centerpoint of the territory would be near
Pinehurst, North Carolina. Great place to play golf, but not a place
you'd want to be single. Though it would mean more driving, I decided
I'd live in Charlotte.
Brad went with me to find an apartment in
Charlotte. It needed to be on the eastern side of the city since that's
the direction I'd go every week.
We went to a complex called
Woodway Point. It was mid to upscale. Had a pool and a small gym.
Trash pickup service. They had a one bedroom unit available on the top
floor--a must for me.
I almost pulled the trigger and put a
deposit down, but I thought I needed to look at a few more places. We
left to go to the next complex on my list.
We drove two miles to the next apartment. We pulled in to the leasing office.
I couldn't open the door of my car. Something was stopping me.
I looked over at Brad. I told him, "I'm supposed to be at Woodway Point."
He shrugged his shoulders and chuckled. We drove back to Woodway Point
I wrote a check for the deposit. A few weeks later, I moved in and started working with Gumdrop Books.
I mentioned that Woodway Point had a gym, right?
Two
years after I moved in, I met this cute redhead named Christina at that gym. We became friends, started dating, and got
married.
All because I couldn't open my car door at an apartment complex down the road.
I
know God guided me to that particular place at that particular time.
It wasn't His booming voice, just a nudge in the right direction. The
important thing was that I went where He wanted me to go.
And that has made all the difference. (In a really good way)
This Sunday at 9:50 am, we'll look at the story of Abram. You know him better by his newer name, Abraham.
God told him to move from where he was to another place God would show him.
The outline of the lesson is:
A Plan of Blessing (
Genesis 12:1-3)
Finish Friday strong. Enjoy Saturday with your family. See you Sunday!
Loyally yours,
Darren Bayne
"There is the risk you cannot afford to take, and there
is the risk you cannot afford not to take." - Peter Drucker
