Cannon Beach Over and Out

Our second annual trip to Cannon Beach is over. We didn't expect to make it to any of the summer conferences this year (see Summer Longing June 2010). But then we heard of the great half price deal for the last week of summer. We called but the conference was already fully booked. We went on the waiting list and thought that was the end of it.

It wasn't and, once offered, we snapped up the half-price opportunity to be spiritually enriched. Our speaker for the 6 days was Bill Farrel. We had not heard of him before the trip but all the speakers at the conference centre come highly recommended. Apparently, you can't get a poor one. And so far, that has proven to be correct.

Bill Farrel worked through 1 Peter as a GPS to find God's way in a wandering world. I enjoyed all ten sessions (morning and evening) and found something of value in each one. There is always a lot to take in at sessions like these. And so, rather than do it all, I aim to take away a few inspirations that will impact how I live life better today than yesterday.

Here are some of my Cannon Beach jewels:

'A common denominator of humanity is pain. We can't erase it but it doesn't need to define us. Which leads to another thought - does the stuff in your life have purpose and is it leading somewhere? It doesn't matter who has it hard or harder - is it leading somewhere or just to destruction?'

'Each life counts. The things we say and do, count.'

'Is the unfairness in life going to ruin you or launch you?'

This encourages me to live a life which has purpose, to weigh my words and actions carefully and to accept that life is unfair. For me, some of the most meaningful words in the Bible are those spoken by Jesus when he says to Peter, "... what is that to you?" What is it to me, or you, what God chooses to do for someone else? Jesus' next words are equally powerful, "You must follow me." (John 21:22)