By Tracy Cooper
At eighteen, I became a teen mother. Although grateful to be a part-time college student, I never got to live away in a dorm. I’d always loved writing, but the responsibilities of being a working parent nudged my dream of writing into a neglected corner in my mind. For decades it stayed there, mostly forgotten.
In my late thirties, I took up running, shortly after the birth of my third and last baby. I was overweight and slow, but I enjoyed it. Over time, I even built up enough stamina to run a half marathon. Exactly five weeks after my first and only half marathon, I was diagnosed with a herniated disc, two bulging discs, and degenerative disc disease. My days of running were no more, just like that. It was January 2016.
What I couldn’t have expected was how God would use this injury for His glory to reignite my love for writing. Unable to run, I began to think about writing as a way to cope with this loss. In April 2016, after careful research and planning, I launched my blog, Earl Grey and Yellow.
For nearly a year, I enjoyed the process of writing, publishing, and communicating with readers through the blog. But something was missing for me. As a high school English teacher, I was used to sharing my knowledge of literature and writing with my students. Despite this, I needed some support to help me sharpen my own writing skills.
On a whim, I Googled “Christian Writing Conferences” and found a listing for a small writers’ conference in Western Pennsylvania. Based on the description, the St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference was the one that appealed to me most. There were others, including one that was only 25 minutes from my home, but it didn’t jive with my summer schedule. After praying and consulting with my husband, I registered. I didn’t realize that this conference would not only help build my writing skills, but it would bring my life full-circle.
After several months of childlike anticipation, I packed the car with a gray and white chevron print blanket I’d bought just for the conference, along with my clothes, computer, and some books. Never had I been entirely by myself for five days, much less with a group of strangers. The six-hour drive was a daunting prospect because I’d never driven so far by myself before. I was in uncharted territory, which was at once thrilling and terrifying.
After a journey across four rivers through the lush mountains of central Pennsylvania, I entered Grove City. As I drove onto the campus, I was struck by the profundity of the moment. College move-in day was here. I shuttled my belongings to the dorm on a rickety luggage cart. The apartment door was emblazoned with colorful little placards bearing the name of each conferee.
In that moment, I was overwhelmed as I entered the apartment. I began to weep as I plopped onto my bed. God had redeemed the situation after 25 years. After my first daughter was born, my dorm room dreams were set aside in order to attend college part time and work full time to give her a good life. Now, I had my own little dorm room. Even better, I was with writers–wonderful, kind, inspirational writers.
In the workshop classrooms, my eyes were opened to the possibility that I could call myself a writer. Maybe I could even call myself a published writer someday. The morning chapel services provided an uplifting start to each day, with writers from diverse denominational backgrounds singing praise to God Almighty. At meals, we chatted about our lives and shared ideas about our work. I was shamelessly smitten with this group of creative, quirky, talented people who welcomed and encouraged me.
After the banquet on Saturday night, I went back to my room, amazed at this gift. In only five days, I became part of this group of writers who valued their craft and esteemed the God who created them to share it. I am longing to return to St. Davids to catch up with my newfound tribe of wordsmiths. My respect for and gratitude to them is beyond words.
Tracy Gerhardt-Cooper is a New Jersey wife and mom, attempting to live a counter-cultural life as she raises her children. She’s an English teacher by day and a blogger/writer as much of the rest of the time as possible. Her blog, Earl Grey and Yellow, was born as the result of a running injury that has reignited her love for writing. She loves Jesus and enjoys a good cup of Earl Grey tea.