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Ashley L Case's avatar

I am so inspired by your honesty and eagerness to write the truth about your life and what you are learning.❤️

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Jody L. Collins's avatar

Tresta, you wrapped words around an indescribable four days....I smiled from ear to ear while I was reading. I've pored over my notes a number of times and so many rich words continue to jump out at me. I could listen to Jonathan Rogers talk about pilgrims all day...

How gracious of our God to connect you with Oregonian writer friends while you were at the conference!

And how grateful I am to have been able to see you and your story-telling partner Tim in the flesh. (thanks for the lift, by the way).

The internet wins this time for sure; being first-online-then-for-reals-friends lo, these many years, is a gift.

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Tresta Payne's avatar

You are a gift! It was such a good time. Jonathan’s closing session is still very much on my mind—I was going to write about it here but it may need it’s own post 😉

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Jody L. Collins's avatar

Happy to be present, Tresta. (See what I did there? Gift. Present.)

Agreed--Jonathan's message needs its own post.... especially the thoughts about how writers are only responsible for their own 'territory' not the entire pilgrim pathway. (My takeaway, anyway.)

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Megan Willome's avatar

💛

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Laura B.'s avatar

This sounds like such a lovely time at the conference, Tresta. I’ve often felt the way you describe—that all the good writerly stuff is far away, that I am an island and no one “gets” it here in my ho-hum everyday life. Lately, I’ve been wondering if it is fear that keeps me in that lonely place. It’s so much harder to foster friendships with creatives in my own back yard and I often feel inferior to the writers I meet locally. Recently, at one of our bird club meetings, I promised myself I would connect with a woman who had read some of her essays to us at a club meeting once. It was scary and I felt so vulnerable, but what resulted was coffee with a new friend and hours of lovely conversation about writing and life. We have agreed to get together regularly and I am so grateful. A button and a screw. Binoculars and a birding field guide. God uses the best things to coax me out of my small-minded ways sometimes.

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Tresta Payne's avatar

I love that story, Laura

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Baby Fever Babe's avatar

This is so beautiful written and that castle is incredible! I am currently 36 weeks pregnant and I am constantly jumping between feeling like I’m holding everything together and preparing for baby’s arrival and also slowly unraveling as I let in fears about being a mom. Beautiful💜

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Tresta Payne's avatar

You sound like a natural mom, already! Holding and unraveling. I hope your experience is precious and pray your fears feel carried by Christ ❤️. Thanks for reading and commenting.

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Krista Steele's avatar

I SO relate to that desire for in person community with other writers, to sit at the library or the coffee shop and be completely immersed in our own worlds together. This was such a beautiful reflection on yearning and God’s faithfulness.

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