Do you ever have a time when God puts exactly the right people in front of you at the right moment?
Yeah, I had that this last weekend.
ACFW was different for me this year. Funds were just NOT there to go, so up until a few weeks ago, I had no plans to go at all. And I was fine with that... until Facebook and Twitter and blogs and email loops started lighting up with every ones exciting planning. Then I just felt bummed.
But then a sweet author friend of mine (Kaye Dacus) suggested that I still go. I laughed very hard, knowing the status of my bank account.
Her suggestion though was just to go to "hang out" with people but not attend the actual conference. A group was carpooling, they had room for one more and would gladly welcome me to join them. Kaye was rooming by herself and didn't mind me crashing with her. I could go and spend very little money but still get to spend time with some of the greatest people on Earth: WRITERS!
So I went.
And oh-ma-goodness. You have NO idea how glad I am that I went. The weekend was about renewing my passion to write. Enriching my relationships with friends that I hold very dearly. And learning to trust God in all the uncertainties.
Now, I'll admit. I totally missed the "actual" conference. That I didn't get to hear Robin Jones Gunn speak was a total bummer!
But I still got my FAVORITE part of conference.
And that was PEOPLE. Hugging hold friends. Making new ones. Putting faces to names. Sometimes that little Facebook profile pic is just NOT enough!! (and then you have people like me who frequently have my kids up there instead anyway!)
Writing is a solitary effort many times. It can even get a bit lonely.
So my tip to you today is.... remember the value of PEOPLE. Both in networking, in challenging your brain beyond its comfort zone, and in just making you smile and laugh.
My favorite conference moment was arriving in the lobby... with something super heavy on my heart, and our sweet Pepper looking at me and saying, "Come on. I need to pray for you." And proceeding to hug me and pray for me right then and there.
A God moment for me, and exactly what I needed to calm my nerves and frazzled brain!!
Yup. People rock:-)
(and yes, this post is devoid of conference pictures because I've been SO BUSY since I got back that I haven't had time to look at them or really, barely breath! Thus the reason this post is late this morning too.... Krista's head NEEDS to get screwed back on straight!)
Krista, what a great post, late and pictureless it may be. I love the way you let your paradigm shift a bit and came to conference for the connecting with other people. That in itself is so encouraging. I saw a glimpse of you in the lobby once or twice but I never got a chance to say hello.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad Kaye encouraged you to come and you did. Spending time with people who fill us can always refresh us.
Now that you're back in real life: Just. Breathe. It will come together. :)
I know! I saw you too and headed over a few times but always go interrupted and then you were gone, ha! Thus is the nature of writer's conferences! Next year though... I require a large hug from you to make up from it!
ReplyDeleteAll right, Krista. I'm ALL over that. :)
ReplyDeleteLove this!! SO true! I'm so glad you were able to come and hang out!
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful post! And what you stated is very true, in so many ways. I have to say though as I read your post, I started considering that although you may have missed the conference, it sounds as though the Lord had you on a mission. To me, it is a beautiful illustration of Romans 8:28 and thank you so much for sharing it. :)
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