Have you ever asked a child, “So, how was school today?”
I bet you got a quick, “okay” or “fine,” for an answer. Right?
After I returned from the Florida Christian Writers Conference a few folks have asked, “So, how was the conference?” If they were hoping for a quick, “great,” or “wonderful,” I sorely disappointed them. Instead I had two take-aways to share:
1. It was, “Like cold water to a weary soul…” (Proverbs 25:25) In the quiet times of meditation, words of hope and encouragement spoken in keynote addresses and during corporate prayer, the Lord tenderly spoke comfort over me, soothing raw and tender places. My spirit of creativity was revived and refreshed.
2. It was a time where, “Iron sharpens iron.” (Proverbs 27:17)
I don’t know of any other professional conference where rivalry is laid aside, leads and tips are given out like Halloween candy, and every instructor and member of the staff are sincerely pulling for your success. Heart and soul was poured into the schedule, workshops and presentations. Just as there is a mutual benefit in the rubbing of two iron blades together, making their edges sharper and more efficient for their task, so my spirit of creativity was sharpened.
Yeah, it was often a fire-hose of information, with more to do than time, I’m still not completely unpacked and my wilting plants need water, but the time away with fellow Christian writers was exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
You may not be able to attend a writer’s conference this year, but if you have an opportunity to go on a retreat with your church, fellow campers, sportsmen or youth group I pray you’ll find a way to and return with two take away to share when someone asks, “So, how was the retreat?”
