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We’ve got 63 people at this week’s St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference in Grove City, Pa. That’s something like 15 more than a year ago, and we’re mighty pleased with that, given a. the economy b. this conference runs from Tuesday night through Saturday morning, so it’s an investment of time and money for attendees and c. let’s face it, Grove City, located about a hour north of Pittsburgh and two hours south of Erie, is hardly a metropolis. (Although it does boast a pretty good outlet mall, I’m told.)

I came here as a speaker in June 2005, experienced a conversion moment thanks to my dear sister in Christ Virelle Kidder, and never really left. I’m now the assistant director, and moderate the Writers’ Retreat critique group during conference. It’s the 54th year for this conference, the second-oldest Christian writers’ gathering in the country and possibly the only one owned by an association of writers.

Why do I keep coming back? Consider how conference has gone for me so far this year:

• I had a deep discussion over breakfast with a friend about whether the Apostle John wrote the Gospel, Relevations, and John’s letters in the New Testament
• I talked with another friend about our continuing struggles and small victories in letting go of parental wounds suffered decades ago
• A hurting friend asked me to pray over her
• Another friend graced me with a discussion about her discernment over a possible new direction in her life
• A conference newcomer sang a beautiful hymn a capella to a roomful of people he’d never met before

And tomorrow morning, I get to do something I’ll never get to do in my own Church–give a sermon.

I’ll be back in Arlington late Saturday night, and it’s always good to be back in one’s own bed. But I’m privileged to count both Arlington and wherever the St. Davids community congregates as home.