Missed the Conference, Met the Creator

Because sometimes the livestream fails, but God still shows up.

I had plans.

Mindvalley was hosting a major AI and creativity conference—exactly the kind of event that feeds my inner strategist, my creative mind, and the part of me that’s just trying to hold everything together without a paid team or a trust fund.

Day three rolled around. I had the session streaming on my phone as I prepped for church. I even tried to record the audio so I could review it later.

Spoiler: the audio didn’t save.

Maybe I had the volume down too low. Maybe they blocked recording on purpose. Either way, I missed most of what I wanted to capture. And while I did catch a few design-oriented slides and snippets of insight, I was frustrated. I wanted more.

Because right now, I’m doing everything I can to build a creative life that honors God and pays the bills. AI tools feel essential. They’re my way of buying back time I don’t have. So yes—I walked into church slightly disappointed. But I didn’t walk out that way. Because while I didn’t catch the full conference, I caught the Word.

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.” —Psalm 130:1–2

More Than Watchmen

The sermon was on Psalm 130. At first, I listened passively, still mentally trying to process what I missed.

But then the verse came.

The one that grabbed me by the soul:

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.”

That was it.

Because if I’m honest, waiting is where I live right now.

Waiting for clarity.

Waiting for timing.

Waiting for creative breakthroughs.

Waiting for things I can’t force or predict.

And like a watchman waiting for dawn, I don’t question if the light will come. I just don’t know when.

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” —Zora Neale Hurston

That line echoed in me as the Word sank deeper. Maybe this year is both—a year of questions and quiet answers disguised as delays. A year where the missed recordings don’t matter as much as the unseen provision.

Because sometimes what I think I need to survive this world gets eclipsed by what I actually need to endure with faith.

Lunch, Joy, and BTS on the Beach

After service, six of us went out to lunch. We sat down at a Salvadorian restaurant, ordered pupusas, and let the laughter flow. Midway through the meal, my friend quietly picked up the check for all of us. No fanfare. Just kindness.

While my car charged across the street, I scrolled through social media and caught a glimpse of J-Hope, Jimin, and RM enjoying a sunny day at Pacific Palisades. Just three friends at the beach, soaking up life. That little clip made me smile.

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” —Karl Barth

And I realized—joy is spiritual. God is not absent from the moments that make us laugh, feel light, or connect to beauty. Even K-pop clips can carry divine fingerprints. Even free lunches and fully charged batteries can feel like provision.

What I Wanted vs. What I Got

I wanted strategic downloads.

Instead, I got spiritual nourishment.

I wanted audio clarity.

Instead, I got soul clarity.

I wanted a play-by-play I could rewatch.

Instead, I got a psalm I can’t un-hear.

“With the Lord is unfailing love, and with him is full redemption.” —Psalm 130:7

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to thrive in this realm. That’s part of my calling, too. But it was comforting—grounding, even—to realize that I hadn’t missed anything that truly mattered.

I may not have captured the full session.

But I caught something more eternal.

And that changed everything.

Soul Insights

1. God is outside of time—and inside every moment.

To me, time feels linear, rushed, and scarce. But to God, it’s already unfolding. What I call a delay might be divine alignment.

2. A missed event might be holy redirection.

Had I stayed home, fixated on note-taking and screen-capturing, I would’ve missed the Psalm I was meant to hear.

3. Eternal food is the better portion.

AI can help me build. But only the Word sustains. One is survival. The other is soul-deep renewal.

4. God provides through people too.

A free lunch. A friend who pays without being asked. That’s provision. That’s God showing up in flesh and blood.

5. Joy is not separate from God—it reveals Him.

Whether it’s music, BTS on the beach, or the perfect bite of food—joy reminds me I’m alive, loved, and seen.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” —Romans 12:12

Final Thoughts: The Word That Stayed

I’m still going to follow up on the conference notes.

Still going to build, publish, create, and push forward.

Still going to delegate more to AI so I can rest more fully in God.

But today reminded me that what feeds the soul must always come first.

God didn’t need the perfect stream or a flawless recording to speak.

He just needed my attention.

And in the end, I didn’t miss out at all.

I left church full. Full of community. Full of food. Full of Word.

And full of the reminder that even when I’m still waiting…

“My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.” —Psalm 130:6

🌿 Your Turn

Have you ever felt like you missed something important… only to realize God was guiding you to something deeper?

If you’re in a season of waiting—between clarity and fulfillment, striving and surrender—I hope this reminded you that you’re not alone.

The livestream may glitch. The plan may change. But the Word always finds its way to you.

🌅 Keep watching for the morning.

Soul Path Insights