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How’s your blood pressure? Not sure about my own, but chances are my numbers are up. Probably just need a retreat. Oh, that’s right, I just got back from one a few weeks ago and it was relaxing, inspirational, and wonderful. 

It was held high up on Palomar Mountain and was a Christian Writer’s Retreat. Driving up the mountain by myself was a challenge that made me nervous. Especially since I’d never been there before. Part of my concern was my history of altitude sickness and part of it my propensity towards car sickness on winding roads. Ironically, about a year earlier, I had written a scene about a character who had faced the scary challenge of driving up a tall mountain by herself. So as my anxiety about the drive grew, I couldn’t help thinking about it. And you guessed it, the story I’d written long before this test, spoke to my own spirit with encouragement. Even my husband commented that “If your character can do it, you can.” 

Pretty funny isn’t it? 

So, up the mountain I went, and the retreat was a blessing. New friends, lots of fellowship, and a view from the top that gave a fresh perspective—literally and spiritually. Naturally, that had been the moral of the story for my character too. 

We’ve all done it— a summer camp, women’s retreat, or couple’s getaway, that took us away from our work-day-world. For a brief time, our souls were refreshed, and our bodies loosed from stress. The inspiration, fun, and a deep breathing of God’s Spirit, refreshed and relaxed us like nothing else.  

Then, we went back down. 

At first, I hit the ground running with revived energy. Of course, like housework, the work I’d put on hold was still waiting for me and the pile of chores were higher than when I’d left.  At least I had gained some new tools for tackling my next big author equipping event—a Christian Writer’s Conference. A writer’s conference differs from a retreat as it offers all kinds of sessions, information, and opportunities that equip writers in their endeavors to become successful published authors. 

Knowing this next adventure in authorship equipping was going to occur in just a few weeks, I dove right into the prep for it. I needed to be ready for an appointment with a literary agent, something that’s a must for anyone who wants to be traditionally published as opposed to self-published. 

Thus, the current rise in my blood pressure.  

So, I sat and took some deep breaths. Closing my eyes and listening to the messages from the retreat that still rang in the ears of my heart, I heard the honest tales of other authors that had inspired me. Authors, who had traveled up scary mountain roads paved with obstacles and insecurities towards their traditional publishing goals. They had spoken candidly of their own pitfalls and successes, but mostly how keeping their eyes fixed on the Lord, instead of their fears and failures, had given them a steadfast strength for the journey. 

My stomach settled, nerves calmed, and a healing balm soothed my sin-sick soul. Whatever happens next on my writing road is in the hands of the best travel guide ever—the Lord. 

Are you currently on a rocky road up a mountain that seems too high to conquer? Tell me about it on the comments here. 

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