Called to be a Scribe

It was 2006. I was in San Felipe Mexico on a short vacation. Usually I packed a book or two to read…

Truly there is no point in lounging on the beach or at the pool with no book and I forgot to bring one with me. Thankfully, San Felipe’s quaint downtown featured a tourist oriented coffee house and used bookstore. It was the kind of place I could browse for hours but hubby wanted to grab a coffee, breakfast snack, and get back to the beach. While he ordered, I went in search of a book. Way in the back the fragrance of old well-loved volumes drew me to the Christian section. On a shelf exactly at my eye level sat a nearly new copy of Pilgrim’s Progress, old English version. What happened next I have decided was a divine appointment with the Holy Spirit. I picked up the book and began to read. While I read I heard and saw another story. It was very disorienting and caused me to scan the aisle right, left, and behind me. I was alone. So, I started to read again and there was that voice dictating to me another story and again I saw in my mind the whole scene. This time I felt the loving presence of God and the voice said to read Pilgrim’s Progress and to write down everything I heard. Not read, but heard. Need I say that I bought the book? And I bought a journal as well

Nothing else profound happened until much later in the evening. Exhausted from walking the beach, exploring, swimming, and dinner overlooking the ocean, we decided to turn in early. I picked up Pilgrim’s Progress, read a few lines and heard the other story again. This time I wrote it all down. When I finished I heard, “I’ve called you to write for me.” Every time I picked up Pilgrim’s Progress during that vacation, I heard and saw more of the story. Thankfully, I listened and understood something supernatural was going on, so I kept writing down whatever I saw or heard.

When I returned home I shared the experience with a trusted prayerful friend. Her response after praying was: God has given you the pen of a ready writer. (Psalm 45:1) You are called to be one of His scribes. No one could have been more surprised than me. At the time, I worked for an elected official and headed up a nonprofit ministry. My schedule was far too busy to fit in writing. Plus, what did it mean to be a scribe for the Lord God? I tried to ignore the call to this mission. However, confirmations kept on coming as did overwhelming urges to write.