If you came into my office right now, I might just die on the floor a little. I’m totally all over the place—binders, books, boxes, notebooks (granted, they are rather pretty), and piles of “to do” stuff all over the place. It’s not how I usually roll, but this week it’s just how my head is. All over the place. “Why?” I hear you ask. I’m recovering from having my mind utterly blown at the Northwest Christian Writers Renewal Conference in Seattle. It’s like I have “writers’ hangover”… :/
You know how it is when you go to a conference of any kind—you are beautifully bombarded with lectures and workshops and meetings and socials until you feel your head might actually implode. It takes a month to let it all sink in and marinate. But it is SO worthwhile!
If you write in any capacity whatsoever, you know how exhilarating it is to actually hang out with other bookish-types who experience similar writing struggles and joys. Rooms packed full of introverts all hoping against hope that there will be one token extrovert present to lead the discussion and break the ice. It’s awesome! For most, it’s a chance to think about goals and the process of achieving them.
Life goals, writing goals, financial goals, spiritual goals… we all have them and are either actively pursuing them or perhaps they are buried somewhere so dark and dank we almost forget they are there. But surely with this one fragile life to live and all the opportunities available to us, we should be running full pelt toward our passion (whatever that might be), fearlessly trying doors and making every single day count. Our keynote speaker at the conference is quite simply the Yoda of Writing, and I hung on his every word. Doc Hensley offered this advice:
“As you consider your goals, consider your God.”
Ah yes. If we believe this passion is of God, then are we putting God in a box, restricting Him to our time limitations, and disqualifying the possibility of miracles? Oooo. “God will anoint us to do what He wants us to do.” Yes, Doc Hensley, I think you are right. And when it comes to setting our goals and following the plan, we need a truckload of WISDOM. (Enter Proverbs…)
*HANG WITH SMART PEOPLE: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22
*PRAY ABOUT IT (A LOT): “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3
*READ GOD’S WORD: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6
(SIDENOTE: I figure I can do with all the wisdom I can get, so I’ve just ordered this super pretty devo book from She Reads Truth— Proverbs: The Way of Wisdom. Check it out. You are welcome.)
Taking it a step further, my writing goals and your “whatever else” goals are all well and good, but ultimately, do we have our eyes on THE prize? Are we going for THE goal? You know, the really cool one that makes everything else pale in comparison—an eternity in glory? Personally, I get so incredibly distracted along my spiritual journey. Like “squirrel” distracted. In my prayers, I find my mind wandering from praying for our dear friends and the church in India to suddenly contemplating making curry for supper tonight. Then later I’ll Google info on a Bible verse and suddenly get tempted by Twitter or fascinated with Facebook. Hopeless. I need focus and I need it now. (I also need to tidy my desk.)
I need wisdom to follow my goal and follow my God. How ‘bout you?
“I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” Philippians 3:14 (The Message)
Thanks for listening to my ramblings, dear friends…
Blessings & Joy as you run toward the goal!
Linking up with some fabulous encouragers! Check them out:
This made me laugh because I SO relate: “Rooms packed full of introverts all hoping against hope that there will be one token extrovert present to lead the discussion and break the ice.”
The conference sounds like it was a wonderful thing. One day I’d like to attend something like that. Beautiful advice from Doc Hensley: As you consider your goals, consider your God. Love it! Thanks for sharing, Laura. Hope you get your office back in order soon. 🙂
Thanks very much, Lisa! Writers are so awesome 😉 I would advise anyone to try to fit a conference in each year if poss… there’s just something so encouraging about rubbing shoulders with like-minded individuals, plus the workshops about marketing and the craft of writing are invaluable. Great opportunity to pitch those book dreams, too! Thanks for stopping by. Blessings!
love it, love you!!
Aww, you’re the best! Love you, sis x
What an inspiring and encouraging post Laura. I can so relate to the brain overload you described. When I returned home from my first blog/writing conference last Fall, my brain was fried with all the amazing knowledge and the incredible writers I met. They too offered both instruction and wisdom . I love the tips you shared from Proverbs. You cannot go wrong with both prayer and studying God’s word. I want to seek God’s direction in all my decision making. I shared in a post earlier this month about distractions while praying. even though I struggle with it at time, I mean no disrespect to my Savior. I know the enemy has a boatload of arrows in his quiver to distract us from doing God’s will. It has been such a pleasure visiting your site via thought provoking Thursday. Have a wonderful weekend and may God bless you and yours!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and for your lovely, encouraging words! I’m glad you had such a positive experience at your conference… they certainly are gold dust for us writers 🙂 Blessing to you!
Hi Laura, I just got on Holley Gerth’s linkup and recognized your picture from the Writers Renewal Conference in Seattle this weekend a few links ahead of me. (I chatted with you over lunch on Saturday so hi again!). Thanks for some good musings on what to takeaway from the conference. I remember Doc Hensley saying that quote too. 🙂 Best of luck as you begin to process all you learned over the weekend – it was a lot to take in for sure!
Thanks,
Bethany
Ah yes, Bethany, well hello again! How lovely to reconnect! I hope you enjoyed the conference as much as I did… I’m still musing and decided what to focus on first :/ Doc Hensley was such a fount of knowledge! Thanks very much for taking the time to stop by here and comment—I’ll head over to Holley’s and find you! Blessings 🙂
love connecting with other writers, thanks for stopping by my blog, and also sharing your hopes and ideas here in the space. I’ve never been to a writers conference, fun to read about your experience.
It was my pleasure, Melissa—you have a beautiful blog! Hope you get the opportunity to go to a conference sometime… it’s priceless 🙂 Thanks for stopping by—blessings to you!
You sound like that extrovert you were wishing for! loved your post and writing and gleanings. I’m headed to SheSpeaks – coming? let’s be friends. (: I just committed today’s plans to the Lord – thanks for the reminder above. (: next to you somewhere this week…
Hi Sue—welcome here! Gosh, I don’t think I’m an extrovert… although I’ll sometimes take the reigns if there’s nobody else up for the job 🙂 She Speaks looks amazing… a bit of a trek from British Columbia, but maybe one year! I hope you have a fantastic time, I’m excited for you. Thanks for stopping by—blessings to you!
Hi Laura! Your “ramblings” are full of insightful nuggets! I think of how many times I have set goals without seeking direction from God, and how many times those very goals have fizzled. And, I love your humor…we have a running joke in my family centered around “squirrel” but I’ve never applied it to how often I get distracted along this journey with Christ. How busy we must keep Him in trying to keep our attention where it belongs. So glad you shared on Fresh Market Friday and look forward to more great messages! Crystal~
Hi Crystal—thanks so much for taking the time to mosey on over here and leave such a lovely comment 🙂 I’m glad you understood where I was coming from with the whole distraction thing… I think most of us have the same “squirrel” issues! Blessings to you!
I’m an introvert so I know what you mean. 🙂
Just this week too I’ve revisited my goals and my to-dos. I’m amazed at how I was able to sleep better after that. 🙂
Blessings!
Hi Lux, and welcome here 🙂 I’m so glad you’ve had such a productive week—I love it when we get a fresh perspective, and sleep is definitely an added bonus! Thanks for stopping by—blessings to you!