Proverbs 13:12 (NASB) reads, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” It’s true I’d wanted to attend the She Speaks Conference – this meeting of like minds in the areas of writing, speaking, and women’s ministry – since 2004. I’m not sure my heart was sick each year I was unable to go, but knowing God’s timing is perfect did soothe the apparent sting of disappointment.
Eventually…
As I walked into the grand atrium lobby, the sun’s afternoon rays perforated the windowed ceiling, and the gaze of eleven floors of hotel room doors and windows witnessed my arrival. On this day, desire had finally come, and I was positioned to experience the life and synergy this gathering of 650 women would inevitably produce.
I arrived 24 hours before the official start of the conference. With each passing hour, the atmosphere swelled with momentum as one eager woman after another stepped off a plane, out of a shuttle van, a bus, or a car, and clicked her heels onto the marble floor of the hotel lobby. Anticipation and great expectation filled the air as intoxicants, and I… well I deeply inhaled.
My brain contorted as my mind struggled to comprehend how each woman taking her turn through the revolving door entered with a similar gift and maybe even a similar story as the woman before or after her. Yet, despite our commonalities, God has a unique plan for advancing His messages of love, hope and freedom to a different audience, in a different way, through each willing and obedient vessel that passed before me – a plan that can only be accomplished by the power of His spirit alone.
Wow…
I was very comfortable in this place.
So, this is what it feels like to be at the epicenter of destiny – the place where a willing, obedient vessel commits her God-given gift(s) to be used to fulfill His plan for her life (the complete details she’s yet unsure of), for the purpose of freedom, by the power of His Spirit.
The epicenter of destiny is less of an event and more of a mindset, a place of true identity, and the actions and lifestyle that flow from that place.
Are you willing and obedient?
What is/are your gift(s)?
Do you trust God’s great power and His planning perfection?
Have you tasted freedom? Do you want to lead others to it?
Have you been to the epicenter of destiny?
Completely ME,
Wisdom, Virtue & Rubies 
Jul 29, 2011 @ 14:25:36
LOVED this post! You captured the Spirit that enveloped us and carrie us through the entire weekend. Thank you for your words. May you continue to find God’s favor as He leads you toward your destiny.
Jul 30, 2011 @ 01:45:52
Thank you for your visit and for your blessings, Dawn. I pray the same for you and each of our fellow SS graduates.
Jul 29, 2011 @ 16:11:14
I had the same feeling! What a wonderful experience it was…..and still is as I process it all! Wish we could have met there!
Jul 30, 2011 @ 01:44:55
Sara, I wish we could have met, as well. I didn’t meet nearly as many people at this conference as I would have liked, but that’s another story for another SS post. 🙂 Still processing…. Hope we can swap some more stories!
Jul 29, 2011 @ 16:14:08
*sigh* This describes exactly how I felt too. I loved floating through the weekend with the knowledge that this was my moment. My arrival on the stage of my “what I want to do when I grow up”. Still so satisfied & content…
Jul 30, 2011 @ 01:36:29
“My arrival on the stage of my ‘what I want to do when I grow up'”
I couldn’t have said it better myself! 🙂 It’s a beautiful feeling, isn’t it, Krista?! I, too, am satisfied, content, and ready for action.
Jul 29, 2011 @ 16:58:20
Monica,
Can’t believe we had the same searching for our name experience…although, I bet we weren’t the only ones! Still processing everything I learned, and I probably will be for awhile!
Jul 30, 2011 @ 01:34:26
Amy, I thought the same thing as I read your post. I’ll bet we weren’t the only ones who had that experience, too. 🙂 Dare we be brave enough to believe that even that experience was all apart of God’s plan for our time at She Speaks.
I hope I get to read more of what you learned from the conference as you continue to process. I certainly plan to share more.
Jul 29, 2011 @ 19:18:55
Monica,
I loved the way you signed off on this post “Completely ME” We do all have many things in common but I have always been a firm believer in our ‘uniqueness” and the fact that it should be ‘celebrated’. It makes me very unhappy to see us as God’s girls competing and clamoring for some ‘mystical’ badge that would make my sister lesser and somehow elevate another’s lost since of personal identity. Although we can all learn from one another I don’t believe it serves us best to imitate or copy another woman’s personal style of sharing God’s transforming Gospel! I am proud to call you a sister in Christ and to celebrate the refreshing quality you display in simply and completely being you 🙂
Jul 30, 2011 @ 01:30:14
Jennifer, your words are very insightful. I think I’ve already read your comment 3 times, just digesting the wisdom. lol… I agree with you. We’re most effective when we embrace our uniqueness and yield ourselves to be used for God’s purpose and glory. I remind myself, “Monica, just be you, and let the Spirit of the Lord do the rest.” I pray that we all will, because there are people out there who need us just as we are.
Thank you for visiting my corner of the blog world!
Jul 29, 2011 @ 23:02:32
Your post nailed it. And the best part of being with women who get it was worshipping our great God together, with no competition, just the bond of sisterhood. Amen and amen.
Jul 30, 2011 @ 01:08:14
“…no competition, just the bond of sisterhood”. I SO agree! See you soon, Debbie!
Jul 31, 2011 @ 19:02:54
Monica, I wished our paths would have crossed at She Speaks! Maybe next year?? 🙂 I enjoyed reading your recap. You are such a gifted writer. Thanks for sharing!
Sweet blessings~
Cindy 🙂
Aug 01, 2011 @ 19:30:06
Cindy, you are so kind. I wish our paths crossed at She Speaks, as well. I’ve read so many SS recaps, and each story is phenomenal! It makes me wish we could do it all again this weekend! lol…It is my prayer to be there again next year, so maybe our paths will cross then. 🙂