We gather at the writing table, huddled close in a room filled with women. The murmur is low, occasional laughter cutting through the hum. We look around at one another, maybe ten of us there with our laptops. One mama has her baby swaddled tightly to her chest. Another pushes her glasses up further on her face. I wonder if she knows she just did that or if doing it is so much a part of her that it feels like a breath.
They are nervous, I can tell. The conference is in full swing by now and this is the last of three writing sessions I’ve helped to lead. I shake my head and wonder how I got here, sitting at the front table, offering my words to encourage others, flailing through the day like a crazy person. I ask who wants to go first and a brave one passes her laptop to her neighbor. We don’t ask them to read their own work aloud, but to have another do it — so they can hear their own words read back to them through the voice of someone else.
She reads, and we are home. It is the fastest 30 minutes of the whole weekend. We fly through words like girls on bikes and in the listening, we learn more of ourselves. I can’t believe I was nervous about this – these women are amazing. They are funny, gritty, singing poets. They learn life by writing it down. I get them.
When you find your people, your soul breathes deep. You can do it alone, but it isn’t as much fun. Sometimes we are afraid of mingling with others who do the same kind of art we do because what if they do theirs better? But these women here, they are a gift, each one. We let one another in, so instead of a free fall it feels more like a jump.
When we write, we remember. When we read our own words, we understand. But when someone else reads words we wrote, we come alive. In this time of year for thanks and for giving, be thankful for your art. Be graceful in the giving of it.
How are you having someone else read your own words back to you in this season of your life? You don’t have to be a writer – you may be passionate about cooking or home design or accounting or music or architecture. Have you made your art available to others in such a way as to allow yourself to come alive?
Emily Freeman makes art on her blog, Chatting at the Sky, and in her book, Grace for the Good Girl.
Thank you, Darcy, for the top image of our writing group.
Leave a Comment
JoAnn says
I learn life by writing it down!
Writing seems like such a luxury, but it has become a necessary luxury. Thank you for validating it. Seriously. Thank you.
Jennifer LeBlanc says
Beautiful. Exciting. Exhilarating. Would love to have been at that table.
Kris says
It was such a blessing meeting you and sitting at your table for that writing exercise. I write my words down and set them loose like children on the playground. I am blessed everytime Simone says they saw Jesus in those words. That’s all I could ever want.
Kris says
*someone* (not simone- well,if there’s a Simone out there who said that to me, that’d be awesome too!) Auto-correct=FAIL
Alle says
That time around that table with you, Emily and the other sisters was incredible. A little nerve-wracking to sing my heart in the midst of such incredible writers, but what I took away from those moments was well worth the stepping out. It all goes back to what we heard that first night…as you go about your life doing what you “do” (writing, singing, creating, homemaking)…do you feel God’s pleasure? Blessings, Emily for writing the words that speak grace and truth into the dark places of the soul.
Lisa Littlewood says
That was one of the fastest 30 minutes of the whole weekend!! My favorite session by far…getting to connect with other women, hearing their words, reading their words…it was a wonderful time of fellowship. More time for this workshop next year! Please?!
Lisa Littlewood says
Also wanted to say that even though you may have felt like you were flailing through the day like a crazy woman, you didn’t appear to be!!! I know that feeling though!!!
Kimberly says
They learn life by writing it down. I love that. 🙂
Christina Gilliland says
Yes what a great day! Alle, and Kris, I was thinking of you! I had no idea how much I needed that until I had it: Acceptance. Understanding. Affirmation. Since that writing group, I have been able to unleash all the writing creativity I didn’t know I was holding back. It has been an unbelievably fulfilling time, albeit it hard and exhausting…Thank you all, sisters for a great 30 minutes!
Amy says
Learning life by writing it down – yes, this is so much a part of me! That’s one of the things I love about blogging – finding others who are also learning life by writing it down. It teaches and encourages me so much.
Heidi White says
This is precious. We live big and bold when we pour out life through our gifts – thank you for sharing yours! Many blessings and eucharisteo.
Christy says
“When you find your people, your soul breathes deep”-Love this Emily. Thanks 🙂
Diane Bailey says
I would love to have table time with my people! Beautiful. Give yourselves a hug from me, a sister who is far away.
AnnieO says
I am not a writer, but rather a sponge of a reader!!! Thank you all for sharing your gifts and opening my heart. And sometimes making me cry.
My “art” is design and illustration, and it is my favorite way to serve within our church. I’m sharing my art and God’s word with refrigerator magnets this year for Christmas…. (2 Corinthians 5:7) We live by FAITH not by sight.
Stacey says
Loved the writing sessions the most! What a gift to get to be inspired by you and the other lovelies.
Thank you friend.
Beth says
I love what you wrote here! This is especially true of me – “Sometimes we are afraid of mingling with others who do the same kind of art we do because what if they do theirs better?” Oh my, I live in that fear! I’m my best fan and worst critic it seems. But yet, when we do get our writing “out there” and others read it and are blessed by it…well, that’s an experience like no other because we see God taking His gift and moving it foward out of us and into another’s life.
So cool.
Claresa says
Beth, I feel exactly the same way when it comes to my art. You explained it so perfectly that I didn’t want to try to duplicate what was already so well written.
I’m soooo ready to let go of that fear and not be so hard on myself, but it’s hard.
Thanks to this post, I’m actually going to try to move past it so I can let God “move His gift forward.” Because after all, that’s the most important thing.
Jennifer says
…I’m scared to death. When people read my stuff in front of me, I want to hide. It’s something I need to work on.
Amy Pitman says
I feel this way, too Jennifer! I have a good friend that encourages me all the time in that area. She is reminding me always to stop automatically thinking that my writing is bad and that nobody will like it. I will keep you in my prayers each time this is an issue for me as well! Hang in there, too. Let God speak through you and it will always be awesome.
Jennifer says
Thank you, Amy! I appreciate your encouragement so much!
Beth W says
I love to cook. Making dishes for people to enjoy is a pleasure for me! Also something I do for others is sign language to music for our special music at church sometimes. Everyone just loves to watch me do it.
“You learn life by writing it down”–How very very true! The more you write down thoughts & special events the better you will remember & perhaps learn a thing or two!
Shelly says
They learn life by writing it down. I love that. It is exactly what I do, or better said what God does for me. I write. It may take weeks to work through what am writing. But there there is healing and lessons and His love each time I write. I love that He loves and teaches me that way.
LolaGirl says
I have mentors that are the best sounding boards. Some are miles and miles ahead of me in the game of getting art to pay a bill. Some are right beside me warming the bench, waiting anxiously to get called into the game. And some link arms, and make art with me that we courageously throw out into the world to see what sound it makes when it lands on someone else’s wall. Thanks for reminding me that all art needs to be heard and not just held, collecting dust in my closet.
maria says
Love the way you wrote this – such vivid imagery!! You have a gift Lolagirl!
Thanks for sharing it!
Kim says
Emily, you have no idea how something you said on Chatting at the Sky inspired me. I totally forgot what it was to be creative in the midst of some really hard years. And then I felt guilty for wanting creativity when so many people are hurting. Your words reminded me that God is a creator and He can use creativity to heal, too!
emily says
So interesting. I am definitely the person who is afraid to get together with other people who do what I do because I know they are better at it than I am, but than how will I ever improve? I keep reading about all the people who went to the Relevant conference and wonder if I could ever be brave enough to do that…
Christina Gilliland says
I encourage you to do it, Emily! You will find a close-knit, welcoming group! This was my first year. It was overwhelming for sure! but by the end I felt so much affirmation in my writing craft, and in the relationships I formed, that I would encourage any one to go!
Cara @ WhimsySmitten says
Being at that table was such a growth exercise for me — as a writer, as a woman. It was a magical experience. Thanks for writing this — and for your encouragement that afternoon.
Amy Pitman says
God Bless you for sharing this encouragement today! A portion of what you said really spoke to me—I feel it is God speaking through you to me today.
“When you find your people, your soul breathes deep.”
Wow! That is exactly right! Thank you.
Shannon says
I long for what you described. I am just beginning to taste it, as God brings talented Christian writers alongside in the journey. He is faithful to give the alone times as well as the companionship- all in His season.
amanda says
Loved this.
Annie at Home » Blog Archive » (in)couragement:: {to dwell in this beautiful, messy tension} says
[…] laugh today, when I see my face here. And I own that I am likely the one fussing with glasses, which are fitted poorly and keep […]
Annie says
Oh, this resonated with me, Emily. Such a gift to share those thirty minutes together, with that sweet circle. This is such a tension in my life – the balance of sharing this art and letting things grow quiet and organic. Thanks for all this food for thought.
Lindsey van Niekerk says
Oh, I love this! How I tremble at sharing my own art and I was fearful at this writing exercise. I am learning to let myself go and let the art in me free.
Thankful….
Barbie says
There are only a handful of people that I know personally who even read my blog. I feel safer knowing that there are those reading whom I will never met. Yet, my heart is falling in love with all of these women and I long to hug there necks one day!
jody mcnatt says
i began my blog for me, never intending to share. i thought it seemed cheaper and more creative than therapy. but through the journey of adopting our 5th child from china and a surprise diagnosis of breast cancer shortly after, God has shown me other plans for my writing. now i do seem to have readers — i still have to gulp at the word followers. i at least have a group of women who write me in personal, private and sometimes public messages…they encourage me. buoy my soul. spur me on. they let me know when they connect. and can i say, i l o v e t h a t!
Brianne says
Because of all you wonderful artists sharing your talent here and in oh so many other places online, I’m inspired to start a blog to share mine soon. I hope to find community like so many of you have! It is a really wonderful thing to see.
Janelle@GraceTags says
I don’t consider myself a writer, per say, but do know I feel incredible when I release my heart onto paper.
Janelle
GraceTags
Patty says
ThiS makes me wish all the more u were going to blissdom! There’s. Nothing like being w like minded people!
Xo
Lisa May says
“How are you having someone else read your own words back to you in this season of your life?”
I am sending a custom made card of gratitude each day through the month of November to someone I am grateful for. The list is filled with family & friends of course, but also past teachers, co-workers, someone I need to make amends with, church leaders, etc….
The power of expressing – daily – how I am grateful for them, and they in return “reading my own words back” is soul-fiber life changing and touching. It’s a full-circle gift. For giver & receiver.
Thank you for this article! LOVED it!
Lisa