Last night I had the amazing privilege of hearing Max Lucado speak at the Writing for the Soul Conference. He did not disappoint. Occasionally, I’ve heard a favorite author speak and been sorely let down because all they did was retell stories from their books. But not this time.

And, get this: he had never attended a writers’ conference before. He said he wished something like this had been around for him two decades ago. But I think he did pretty well for himself without it. The other mind-boggling thing was this: He had never spoken publicly about writing before. Except in “sidewalk conversations.”

So, there I sat in a room of a few hundred people hearing a debut message from America’s favorite pastor. It really was as if he had written a brand new book just for us, and then he read it to us. Yet, at the same time, it seemed like the poetic phrases were just springing straight from his heart in casual conversation.

I came away encouraged and inspired about life, writing, and serving God. Not necessarily in that order. Here is one of the things that touched me the most: Max Lucado got his start writing the church bulletin.

We’re in good company, Anna.