Into the Fire

The current state of affairs in this world can definitely lead to the directions the above signs indicate. Any one of them is an undesirable place to be, and what person hasn't "been there, done that"?

In addition to the condition of this chaotic world, publishing can present the very same lack of direction and emotional disturbances for writers. In today's failing economy successful authors have been abandoned by their publishers and for the first time are contemplating self-publishing. Much of the stigma – although not all of it – has been removed precisely because of "name" authors using it to further their careers.

The productivity and profitability of e-publishing bloomed into the real deal, giving all kinds of writers new opportunities for their work (good and bad). Regardless of the quality of the writing, this puts the responsibility for determining the value of a story square in the lap of the reader where it belongs. Does Amazon refund the purchase price of an e-book as is done in bookstores if a customer decides they don't like a book after reading it? I hope not.

I once again admit to being confused, baffled, and bewildered by some – or many – current CBA publishing decisions, but it's the name of the game. And at this present time I'm not playing it.

Father, your directions all have purpose, are all correct, and, although we might be confused or baffled by them, it doesn't change their value or their right nature. So, forgive me please when I question or complain. I'm near-sighted. Help me always to see more clearly and trust more deeply. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.