Proofreading A Thousand Trails started off as a pretty mundane task. Imagine reading the personal journal of a person whom you don't even know... But as I read along, I was drawn into Uncle Cam's (term of endearment for William Cameron Townsend, founder of Wycliffe) life stories. I was vicariously living his adventures through the book.

His story did not present itself to be very appealing at first. It seemed to be the typical missionary story that involves natives, jungles, and insects. But as he reveals more of his feelings and emotions in his journals and in his letters home, it struck me that this is not just a fictional adventure. It's the experience of one man who strives to live out God's will for his life. And that's not easy.

I wonder how many times I've read stories like Uncle Cam's, seeking to be awed and inspired by someone else's story. Then I close the book and put it down with a feeling of wonder and amazement.

Yet I've never stepped into the story myself. I was contented to be a reader, but not a character. Because it's too risky and uncertain to be a character in a book that's not written by me. But as Uncle Cam's story shows, God's an amazing storyteller. His stories are perfect. It also has a "happily-ever-after ending" (in God's definition, of course). And sometimes, our God also has quite a sense of humour, as shown in the following excerpt from A Thousand Trails:

"I am just the happiest fellow on earth. My love for Elvira grows greater every day, and hers for me. I didn't know I was capable of such great love... With a special romantic flair, William Cameron Townsend proposed to Elvira Malmstrom on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1919. Unknown to Cam at the time, only a few days earlier, Elvira had received a letter of proposal from his good friend Robbie. But three days later Elvira made her choice and wrote Cam's parents."

No worries. Things worked out for Uncle Cam and Elvira, and they were happily married on the following July 9.

I know that I can have a perfect story for my life as well, if only I am willing to be a character in the story that God is writing.