Catalyst Dallas Review 1 - Conference Fatigue

(Recently I went to the first ever Catalyst Conference in Dallas. This is the first in a series of posts based off reflections from that conference.)

As I have been back for almost two full days now, some unintended things have begun to happen in me and it has nothing to do with what I learned at the conference. This is what I will refer to, and what I’ve heard others call, as conference fatigue. This is not due to travel or the rapid pace of the event (though both were frenetic), but is entirely based off the experience and the people with whom I shared it.

Conference fatigue has two parts to it. First is the loss of the closeness of the relationships you have while spending so much time with the others you have gone to the conference with. This is lessened if you do not have to travel to the event, but conversely it can be worsened by the distance you have to travel. Second is coming down from the emotional and spiritual high of the event itself.

It begins to set in as soon as its all over and I believe this plays a role in not implementing many of the action points learned at the event. For me, this is when I actually got home. As I began unloading my bags from the car there was a growing sense of loss. I was already missing the people I had just spent so much time with. But there was also the revelation that I had all these thoughts and experiences replaying themselves in my head and that the only people who could really understand them were not readably available to talk them out like they were just a few short minutes ago. Though we are still friends and communication with them is easy, the bond of the car, hotel, and conference has been broken. And as much as I might miss that bond, it is a good thing because life is not lived at conferences. And I believe our relationships will only improve based off this shared experience. Now that I am actually home though, I need to do the hard work of implementing what I’ve learned and I need to remember that I can use these people as resources to help me remember and process.

The second part of conference fatigue, for me, can be a little bit easier to deal with. I learned many years ago that the mountain top experience of a conference has to come to an end. Matt. 17:1-13 shows us a mountaintop experience for both Jesus and a few of His disciples. It is immediately followed by Jesus returning to ministry and leading those disciples to do the same. Life cannot be lived on the mountain top, it must be lived in the valley and I am beginning to learn to love being in the valley more than the mountain top. (Though I admit to needing the mountain top at times)

With all this said, I loved the few days I got to spend in Dallas, and I am grateful for the people God brought along with me. I am excited to see what He does in both my life and theirs based off this conference. God awoke something inside me that I’ve kept dormant for too long. To write it all out here would be longer than I could possibly keep coherent, but I do plan to share it with others (and sometimes this blog) in the coming days and weeks. I must keep this passion always present before my eyes or I will lose it again.

I also have come up with some ideas on how to deal with conference fatigue. First, allow yourself to sit in it for a bit. There is a bit of a loss there - loss of the experience, the bond, and much needed sleep - so allow yourself the opportunity to mourn for that loss. Second, don’t allow the loss to over take you. This means getting up and doing stuff. (I am extremely thankful and appreciative to Alex, Garet, and Steve for including me on one of the best afternoons in bad weather that I can ever remember. Those few hours we spent on the golf course got me moving, distracted my mind, made me laugh till I cried and reminded me of the blessing God has given me in everyday life – of which you three are highly ranked.) Third, spend time with people who were there with you. Planned or unplanned, it is important to reconnect (often in the early stages of conference fatigue) with those that shared that experience with you. Don’t force it, but allow for chances to just be in each others presence while you are readjusting from the mountain top. Fourth, plan a review process. For me it is writing this blog. I am making myself review parts of the conference each day this week and write about them. In order to remember all the amazing things learned, find a way to incorporate a long review into the days that follow the conference. And don’t just do it alone, bring others into the process with you.

I hope this is helpful to some (or at least a break for a few minutes at work), I know it has been very good for me. Please check back as I will be reviewing more of Catalyst in the coming days. And keep ever present the truth and reality of Jesus Christ in your life and the world around you. God Bless.