Renewal at Glen Eyrie

I thought it was interesting that this month’s theme is renewal and I just spent four days at a writers’ conference at Glen Eyrie, in Colorado Springs.

Even without the teaching, the setting of this conference is filled with renewal. The grandeur of the mountains is totally awesome on this property just north of the Garden of the Gods. Big Horn sheep and wild turkeys are common sights. It is a wonderful place for rest and renewal.

This conference was different than most because it was more a workshop with classes, time to write using what was learned in the classes, fun, and fellowship. There was less pressure than normal because there are no pitches or meetings with editors and agents. Mentors Angela Hunt, Nancy Rue, Kathryn Mackel, and James Scott Bell lead the teaching and bonding sessions. During the general sessions, the mentors talked about re-inspiration, re-newal, re-birth, and re-charge. Below are a few of my notes from Nancy Rue talking on renewal.

New can be a fresh, new slate; something delightful.
New can be uncomfortable; like trying to make friends in a new town or getting use to a new home.

Therefore, we don’t always want to renew. Renewing is a choice. To be a great writer or an effective Christian we must renew.

As discussed in the story of the meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus, the Lord tells us we have to be reborn; we have to be made new.

Renewing as a writer can be going to conferences, talking to other writers, buying a laptop, etc. But you’re not a writer until you write.

As I write this, I realize the describing the process of renewal is even more difficult than living it.

For those who are interested, the dates of this conference for next year are June 12-15.