September 13-14, 2013
Logan, Utah
I hadn't thought to blog about this until one of the Saturday afternoon presenters really spoke to my writerly side. I came at the behest of my sister, who has been a Time Out for Women (TOFW) volunteer in Logan for a number of years. Although I have long loved the work of the presenters (I even follow Hilary Weeks on Facebook and enjoyed her vacation-pictures-with-washing-machine meme immensely), I was a little hesitant about the event. It seemed like the same sort of crowd that was lining up the day before the Twilight Marathon at your local Cineplex. I love my Twi-hard friends but we obviously have very different opinions of what constitutes a fulfilling day.
I'm glad to report that this was a babysitter-worthy event, with no domestic-violence-promoting vampires in sight (though it was a little disturbing to witness the pandemonium when the Hudson Lights cuties came on stage. Ladies--we are not pre-teens at a Beatles concert). The whole thing was a great mix of serious and fun--with general hilarity casting extremely poignant personal and spiritual moments in high relief--and even though it was a little odd to clap after saying "amen," somehow it worked.
My first "ping" as a writer came when Mary Ellen Edmunds talked about praying and asking Heavenly Father for time to think and ponder. I know this isn't unique to my situation but as a single mom it is very difficult to carve out time for thinking, pondering, and writing. The time I do find seems like a miracle. Praying for that miracle was a light bulb for me (I had forgotten that I used to do that!).
Likewise, Jennifer Platt Brinkerhoff's lecture resonated with the writer in me because I do actively try to find the parable in life experiences in my poetry and creative nonfiction pieces. I loved how she would tell stories and then remind us (multiple times) to not get so caught up in the story that we miss the message. That trained us in a small way to step back and see the meaning. It gave the audience several opportunities to feel what it was like to do what she was advocating (thus making it more likely that we would be successful trying this at home). I also loved the idea of asking if our routines reflect what we claim to value. Coupling that with the idea of ritualizing your routine (finding meaning in the small things we do every day) brought home the fact that I need to spend my time doing what I most value: working because I value independence and want to provide for my children, baking because I want us to be healthy, creating art because it delights my soul etc.
As for the rest of the day, I don't think I can do it justice in a short review. From Sandra Turley's heart-wrenching journey to motherhood and soaring soprano voice to Kris Belcher's self-deprecating humor and emotional honesty (my favorite line: the problem with going blind is that all of the hot movie stars have lost their looks), it was a day full of the sorts of things that squeeze your heart. We heard from Brad Wilcox (who never fails to be both funny and insightful), Terryl and Fiona Givens (whose thoughtful discussion challenged common notions of the "Dark Ages"), Hudson Lights (easy on the eyes and easy on the ears with their flawless harmonies and winning smiles), and Sheri Dew (who always manages to be both a person to look up to and a person you could lock arms with. If I ever fly through Africa I'd like her to be my traveling companion!).
All of this was punctuated on Saturday by the music and musings of Hilary Weeks. Her music was the impetus for a couple of really cool moments on Saturday. The first was when she was singing "Dancing in the Rain" and mentioned a polka dot umbrella. Halfway up the auditorium someone opened up their polka dot umbrella and began waving it. This led to umbrella after umbrella opening (it was a rainy week and people were prepared for inclement weather). It was such a lovely expression of the joy bursting through the room. I wish I was the sort of person who is prepared for inclement weather! I opened the umbrella in my heart instead.
The second moment was when she sang "I Will" and invited us to join her on the chorus. The third time we all stood and the entire auditorium sang:
"I will stand.
I will not fall.
In a world that's weak,
I will be strong.
I'll be true.
I will choose His way.
Yeah, I know what's right
And I will not change.
In a world where so many will not,
I will."
I was tempted to pull out my phone and record it, but decided I wanted to experience it without a filter. Because of that you'll have to just take my word for it: that kind of unity is powerful. A huge auditorium of faithful women audibly and directly affirming their desire to stand up for good brought the Spirit flooding in. If the umbrellas were visual joy, this was audible and visual faith. As a writer of faith, this was tremendously strengthening in both a spiritual way and a writerly way.
I love those times when a large group seems to beat with one heart. I remember being in a regional conference in Ohio when the Columbus temple was announced. So many of us who had sacrificed and driven hours to be at the conference were the same ones who had sacrificed and driven hours to go to the Washington DC temple regularly (the closest temple: 6 hours away). It felt like we all had the same reaction in the minute following the announcement--like the entire stadium was one person, bursting with joy. I count myself lucky to have experienced that moment and I count myself lucky to have been in Logan, Utah on a Saturday morning when a group of women with different lives, different tastes, and different backgrounds became one person bursting with faith.
A note to Deseret Book, though: maybe you should start doing some marketing specifically geared to hipsters. Maybe some ironic chevron products like mustard and navy chevron knee socks a la Mary Ellen Edmunds? If you make them I'll wear them next year!
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