That’s Why We ComeAs I think about this recent annual conference, I keep coming back to the same question,“Wait, it's over?” Just that quickly it has come and gone. I haven’t had time to unpack it all as last week I was just trying to “catch my breath” and unwind a bit and get over a horrible head cold that laid me out.
One of the first things we do when reviewing an event such as the annual conference is to make a list, mentally or otherwise, of things that we would change, issues that came up, complaints, or things we will do differently the next time. And perhaps that's a normal way of thinking. But for me this morning it's different. There will be plenty of time to go over those things, and I am certain that we will. Maybe it's the lens that I have been looking through regarding the conference, a lens of appreciation rather than a lens of evaluation.
It is an appreciation of the work that each member of the planning team contributed and seeing that hard work result in what it did. It's an appreciation of our speakers and presenters who gave of their time and traveled, some quite a distance, to share with us what the Lord had laid on their hearts. Some of those kind folks came directly from work or took off work all together to spend some time with us. It is an appreciation of God's beauty. Many of us have to travel a good distance to the annual conference. In traveling myself I have a “motto” that I try to keep…”Always take the scenic route” because it is on those routes that you see the things that you miss by just staying on the turnpike. The small roadside farmers stand – one on the way home had the most amazing fudge! That small town’s fall festival with a parade and people milling about. Or the stunning beauty on those two-lane country roads. It goes by fast enough. Take the scenic route. Which brings me to my biggest takeaway from this year’s annual conference. It‘s the people. It’s you. It’s you taking the time, traveling to the destination, making the effort to encourage one another. Psalm 133:1 says, ”Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” Several times during the weekend I just looked out at all of the faces, many familiar and some not and just praised God! That’s it. That’s why we come, year after year, to praise God for what He’s asking us to do. We get refreshed, surrounded by like-minded people. We fellowship and share with those we may not see often. We come to worship our Lord and we do it together. Thank you to each of you for attending, for participating and for making the annual conference a truly blessed weekend!
|
