The 11th Hour

I am a fan of the underdog.

I love it when the odds are stacked against the good guys and it looks like the bad guys are going to win....and at the last second something happens and the bad guys go down.
I don't know many people that don't cheer for the side that shouldn't have won. 

So- I love it when things work out for people when against all odds- it shouldn't.

Today- that person was me.  I had found out a few weeks ago that there were scholarships for writers who wanted to go to "The Ragged Edge"- a rather unconventional writer's workshop led by author Ted Dekker.  There was no way I could afford the $650 ticket so I entered four or five contests to win a scholarship.  I thought I had a chance of winning at least one of the contests and was extremely disappointed when I did not get a scholarship.  I even started a fund for next year's workshop.

I got up early this morning to do some writing.  It's always quiet at 5am so that's when I get some of my best stuff written.  After I had spent an hour or so writing, I checked my email and was surprised to see one from Tosca Lee- one of the authors that will be at the Ragged Edge.  She explained that I was the runner up in her contest and that the winner was not able to go to the workshop and would I be interested in the ticket?

Ummmmmmm......YES!!  I ran in the bedroom and woke my husband up to tell him.  I thought I was still dreaming but when I showed him the email- it was still there.  We figured out a very creative way to combine a brief family vacation with the workshop.  So next week we will be heading to Nashville! 

Do I care that I was the runner up? 
Nope.  Not if that means that I will get the chance to sit at the feet of some awesome and innovative authors and learn from their wisdom.
What matters is that I am seeing yet another "long-shot" in my writing journey coming through for me.

Coincidence?
Hardly. 
Destiny?
Absolutely.
Is this a shift in my favor at the 11th hour?
Yes it is.
And I have a feeling that my life will never be the same.

Have you ever had an 11th Hour experience?  I'd love to hear about it! 

Here's to trusting God- even when it looks the darkest.  You never know what will happen next.

Here is a video of Switchfoot's new single "Dark Horses".  I thought it was very appropriate for my post tonight.