I’ writing this blog in the lobby of the Christian Associates Staff Conference auditorium. It’s loud and raucous and fun and wild. It’s so great to be connected to other missionary/church planters who have experienced years like we’ve had. What a blessing.

Worship has been sweet. And loud. And connected.

Conversations around meals has been refreshing. And revealing. And spiritual.

It’s the beauty and joy of community . . . where we are known, frail and needy, and still loved. Where others understand our journey.

Someone said, “I want next year to be different,” and I nodded. I asked him how and he told me how he wanted to balance his life better and work on some internal issues. I resonated with that and owned it too. I want this next year to be different. I want to have better balance and rhythm to my life. I want to let Jesus walk me through new issues, deeper valleys of my soul.

And then, I had a little revelation in the midst of this conference: It’s OK to be me. It’s OK if I don’t fit the mold. It’s OK if I’m not what I perceive as the perfect Christian woman. Could it be that the Lord made me just the way I am for His purpose. Does it grieve God when I cower from myself and not rejoice in my weakness? I wonder.

So, that’s my brief report from the staff conference. It’s only just begun, as the song says. But already I’m being blessed in community.