PWOC West Region Conference

con·fer·ence/ˈkänf(ə)rəns/
Noun: A formal meeting for discussion.

If anyone can discuss, it’s me. I need ten minutes telling a story SkipperClan could relay in one sentence. I want to talk about the why, the background, the reason of something. When I was invited to attend the PWOC West Regional Conference held in Seattle last weekend, I signed up for those four days with women faster than you can say…conference.

Something has changed in recent years though. This girl with too many words for minutes, has begun to look to conferences as time to…

re·treat/riˈtrēt/
Noun: An act of moving back or withdrawing.

It has become a welcome time of clarifying goals. A time to look toward the future and figure out, what’s next? This season however, this year, with continental moves and frustrating back pain and teenagers and new jobs and new towns, it felt more like…

re·treat/riˈtrēt/
Verb: Withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat.

I didn’t understand the difference when I left last Thursday. I didn’t realize I was thinking of the weekend as an event. God was taking me to a place of action. When the minivan left, piled high with women holding two things in common: this military life and a love for our God, I thought I was going to something, not going to do something. I didn’t grasp how much God wanted me to reflect not just on where I was going, but where I had been. I had planned to receive encouragement and fellowship. I mean, look at these ladies, you know they did not disappoint on the encouragement and fellowship!

This conference was more than that though. In class after class, in speaker after speaker, God gently whispered:

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. I Kings 19:11-12

So when our main speaker opened her second session with simplicity, I leaned fully in, grabbing the tissues as I considered what He might be ready to prune from my life. When a teacher showed us the places woven through the Word where olives hold deeper meaning, I obeyed her suggestion to take the minutes to reflect, to journal. When the offer was presented to stay and pray…I quieted and listened to His still, small voice.

I am still listening, even as I have come back home these last few days and entered the busyness. There is laundry and meal preparation and children and pets and bills and shopping and studies to prepare and customers to call and…

…this time however, I did not leave His presence. I am listening as He uses

• His Word
• Spiritual mentors
• Confirming words from those who don’t even know they speak them
• Gratitude despite circumstances

Chaplains who support the development of Christian women

Stacks of books added to the reading list

PWOC stands for Protestant Women of the Chapel. You can find a local group and learn more at www.pwoc.org