Excerpt from Chapter 9: Wrong Turns

“Lewis Carroll’s classic story, Alice in Wonderland, portrays a little girl who arrived at her crossroads with a choice to make: which way would she go? When you don’t know which way to go, be careful about whom you ask to give you directions. Alice suddenly found herself faced with the Cheshire Cat sitting on a tree limb, grinning from ear to ear, not caring which way she would go as long as she could go somewhere. The cat assured her that she would do just that.

Unlike Alice, I knew where I wanted to go and I knew what it would take to get there. I was working on the chosen path…I thought…until.... "

 

I know now that while on the wrong road, you can also take every test that comes your way and turn it into a testimony. Then your testimony will encourage others to get back on the right road and keep moving forward. Evil intent then turns into good. If I took a tally of all the persons I’ve counseled and seen the positive results, it would be those in troubled marriages. It can happen when you choose to learn from your mistakes, not wallow in self-pity or blame others for the wrong road you took on your life journey.

I know now that you must never give up on yourself and never think you are the only person who has ever taken a wrong turn at the crossroads of your destiny. Instead of reacting, start acting. If you react, you will wear yourself down responding to situations when your focus should be on moving forward. Soon you will find your- self entering into a new season that will expose more of what you were born to do and the direction you should take to accomplish it.

I know now that when you make bad turns in life, you must not allow them to become excess baggage. Along with my forgiving of my ex-husband, I asked God to forgive me and to free me from all hurt, anger, bitterness, rejection, and any other baggage that I may not have been aware of…better known as “iniquities”…the hidden baggage. I am happy to say I have never allowed my marital relationship to cause me to become bitter against men, marriage, or other relationships. I realize the importance of having the right attitude of the heart. Mine was tenacious in the sense that after many tears and near-death heartbreak, I said, “I am somebody, and I’ll rise again in pursuit of my divine destiny in life.”
 

"Dr. Lucile Stephens Richardson and this work, Embracing Destiny’s Crossroads, is a unique source of help in the journey of exploring and pursuing destiny. First, this book is a personal testimony that identifies the common struggles we face as humans in the drama of life and human search for meaning. You will immediately feel the author’s story is yours and find comfort and encouragement
in its pages.

Secondly, Embracing Destiny’s Crossroads is a map that takes the confusing terrain of life and lays out a clear path to follow in the discovery of your life’s assignment. Lucile leaps over the complicated jargon of psychology and presents the principles and precepts of this very complex issue in terminology and examples that everyone and anyone can embrace. Her simple approach gives us handles that we can hold on to. She lays out a step-by-step strategy for understanding the concept of destiny and the many facets involved in bringing us to that place, where we can embrace it with confidence.

This book will become a classic. I challenge and encourage you to dive into the following pages with an open mind and hungry heart as you peel the wisdom from each page. Let this book be the catalyst that draws you to the greatness of your purpose as you embrace the crossroads that lead you to your ultimate destiny."