Back to blogging!
My month away from the blog world didn’t keep me from writing a few posts here and there (even if they went un-posted). In fact, I found it easier to write blog posts last month. It is a peculiar feature of the human mind that, at times, we work better under pressure and a looming deadline while, at other times, the absence of pressure provides mental space to think creatively.
Work and rest are woven into the fabric of human life and flourishing. Our minds are stimulated by seasons of labor and diligence, yet we are also stimulated by seasons of rest and reflection.
Blogging is a discipline, for sure. Thinking of something new and (hopefully) valuable for readers each day does not come naturally. And yet for those of us who love to write, blogging can also be a delight. Knowing that I had a full month off from blogging gave me time and energy to think of some ideas that I might have missed had I been in the midst of grinding out daily posts during the hottest days of summer.
What surprised me most during my blog fast was the way in which Twitter and FaceBook have already become ingrained in my daily habits. I continued to check Twitter updates from friends, but I forced myself to stay on the outside looking in. Early on in the month, I had ideas to post or Tweets I would have liked to Retweet. But I decided to stay (for the most part) silent. It was good for me to do this. Taking a break from social media is a helpful exercise that grounds us again in the real world, not the pseudo-online world that can easily sap our time and energy for developing real relationships.
During my month off, I was able to complete a rough draft of my upcoming book on the gospel. This book has been much harder to write than Holy Subversion, perhaps because of my sense of intimidation at tackling such an important subject. It’s also quite a bit longer (a good 15,000 words more) than my first book. But filling pages is not an issue for me. I’m already 10,000 words over my limit, which means I’m now cutting it up and throwing sections away. As my work on this book progresses, I plan on starting blog discussions about the nature of the gospel, particularly how the three-fold dimension of Story, Announcement, and Community converge to give us the apostolic message.
July was also filled with some good family time. Our son is playing T-ball this year, and I just have to share two highlights. The first was when our boy hit a home run with the bases loaded yet had no clue as to the significance of his accomplishment. When I met him at the dugout to congratulate him, he said, “What’s a home run?”
The second highlight was the game in which Timothy seemed highly distracted in the outfield and we didn’t know why. Turns out he was enamored with a tooth he found on the ball field, a tooth that belonged to a teammate! At the end of the game, we returned the tooth, happy that the Tooth Fairy would not be confused overnight.
My wife and I appreciate those of you who continue to pray for my father-in-law. We have received emails from readers who know of his condition and are praying for his recovery. Thank you for ministering to us in this way. Right now, Corina’s father is nearing the end of his radiation treatment, which is particularly hard for those who suffer with throat cancer. He has lost a lot of weight and his immune system is very weakened. We are praying that as he finishes out this treatment, he will soon feel better and that the next pet scan will bring good news.
I look forward to daily blogging again. Thank you for allowing me this time away and for picking back up with me again and continuing our journey together.
