My writing in this space has slowed, hasn’t it? I’m not sure what to make of that. How about you? What changes are you seeing in your writing? Are there differences in the frequency with which you write online, or has your online preference moved from blogging to Facebook or Twitter or something else? I rarely ever say never, but what I feel for sure is that it will be a very long time from now that I stop blogging. The frequency may change over the seasons of my life, but I really do like it here. And, I really do like you. I’m grateful for the conversations we have here and for the many ways you challenge my thinking and press into the things we think about together.
Blogging has introduced me to some incredible people — deep thinkers who live into grace and who know how to live life well. Blogging has also given me lots of opportunities to write and to think. One thing that’s interesting about that is, when I write for different online spaces, I write to deadlines that rarely fall close to each other. But, the articles may appear online at the same time. That happened recently, and I wanted to give you the chance to pick something that resonates with you, either at the High Calling, in the Washington Post, or at (in)courage. You can click over to read each article, and share your thoughts in the comments, or around your dinner table, or in your journal, or on your own blog. These four pieces come from four different seasons of my life. But, they’re all me and they reflect specific insights I’ve learned along the way:
At the High Calling
Last week’s theme at the High Calling was “What My Employer Gets Right,” and I wrote two devotional reflections — one ran on Sunday, and the other one ran on Saturday. I think it’s easier for us to talk about the things our employers do that get on our nerves. But what about those employers who take good care of their employees? And how about you? Are you an employer, a manager, or a supervisor at work? What do you think your employees would say about what it’s like to work for you?
Click through to read What Promises Do You Make to Your Employees? and The Benefits of Extending Grace toward Employees.
At the Washington Post
When a pool party went wrong in McKinney, Texas, the responses were pretty predictable to me. Before the comments and commentaries began piling up, it was fairly clear what the arguments would be and how the sides would shape up. The predictability fascinates me, and I can’t help but wonder what would be different if the Church could be different. The Washington Post reached out to me and asked if I’d write something in response to the incident. You can google McKinney, Texas, if you’re unsure about what happened. Then, click through to read my thoughts about how we might be able to do things differently.
Why a Pool Party Fight in Texas Can Help Us All Consider Who we Call “My People”
At Incourage
A few months ago, I found myself dealing with a bout of depression. Calling it “a bout of depression” doesn’t quite convey the gravity or the darkness of that season. I wrote about that season for the community at (in)courage and, as is usually the case, sharing about that heavy journey made it safe for others to talk about their own experiences with doubt and fear, anxiety and depression, and darkness and heaviness that you just can’t shake loose. If you’ve ever experienced a crisis of faith, or depression, or a season of sadness and darkness, I hope you’ll visit this article, read the comments, and know you’re not alone. Sometimes, knowing you’re not the only one is a small, small pinprick of light in what feels like impenetrable darkness.
Join the conversation by clicking through to read What if Praise is a Cartwheel?
How about you?
I’d love to know how you’re feeling about your writing these days. What are you writing? Where are you writing? And, if you’re not writing, how are you feeling about that? On my Facebook timeline, I posted a link to an article about two well-known bloggers who have called it quits. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts about that, too.
And finally, I want to encourage you to consider going to the Women of Faith Farewell Tour when it comes to your region of the country. You can click through here to read more about that. To get $20 off your registration, just enter the code DRIGGS20 on the Women of Faith registration page. If you decide to go, I hope you’ll let me know!
Top image by Dirk Mathesius for visitBerlin, used with permission. Second image by Christopher Sessums, used with permission. Last image taken by Sam Van Eman, at Threshold at Laity Lodge (you should go there).
So good to see you again, Deidra! I’ll be checking out your recent writings, for sure. Around here, an unexpected series on my transition journey has morphed and taken flight.
Kinda like what’s happening in real life.
;-}
Deidra, I ended up taking an intended Sabbatical from my blog ( Sincedec 2015.) Ann Kroecker quoted Ann Lamott saying something along the lines of sometimes when we can’t write, it’s more that we simply need refilling, rather than being blocked. that has been true for me. I have been in a season of rest and recovery moving into the first anniversary of my dad’s death. The refilling started at JJ RETREAT. Then a special time with Jesus ( my last blog a couple weeks ago) and the passing of that anniversary date and something lifted. The lighter feeling was palpable.
I used to try to post every week, but at this point will post when I am moved to do so. I write most days I my journal. Most of it stays there for now. I post when I have something I think might help others– letting it simmer first. I am committed to some memoir writing focusing on what I learned at age 57 when things fell apart for me..my main audience is my children and the children to come — that the next generation might know. (Psalm 78). I have hired Ann Kroecker as coach once a month.
My sabbatical was UN intended
Deidra, I’m still blogging, #1) because of the connection with other kindred spirits who have encouraged me and 2) because I always have something on my heart to say. And, it comes out best through words–sometimes I’m more comfortable with the word ‘Communicator/Connector’ rather than Writer; there are others who are so gifted with language and writing–Esther Emery, Lisa Jo Baker, my friend Tresta Payne.
Anyway–I have held myself to a once-a-week post on my ‘main’ blog as a way to ‘collect the light’ (a line I borrowed from Phyllis Theroux) and as a way to position God’s word and His work in a way that will ‘reflect, shine, and reveal’ (the little byline on my header).
I also have another poetry blog–anotherfacet–where I post occasionally as well. Not sure about keeping them separate going forward, but that’s where I am for now.
As to Facebook and Twitter–yes, they have become ‘platforms’ and more of shortcut I think, as well…..They are also for me a significant distraction, and I am easily distracted. My spirit is always being reminded to keep what’s actually truth–God’s Word–in front of me and to stick with the ‘walking around’ life He’s called me to.
So much more I could ramble about, but I’ll spare you.
I read your High Calling piece, as well as the one at The Washington Post. I will check out the (in)courage post in a bit. May God continue to use you as a conduit for Him. I appreciate you.
This morning, waiting in my inbox was your article from Incourage. A friend sent it. Having chemo treatments seems to throw you into a “dark night of the soul”. I may not be doing cartwheels just yet, but I am choosing life. I have a great support group who send me notes and encouragement.
I just began a new blog I’m calling “Love In the Time of Chemo”. It is merely reflections of “our lives” during the past 36 years and a record for our children to remember. I hope to keep up with it. For the most part, I want my life to have mattered and I want Jesus to be seen through this event.
What a timely post, Deidra! To answer all your {wonderful} questions would be to write a blog post of my own, and I’m certain you don’t want that here.
I am writing, mostly on my blog. But I know God wants me to carve out time for the book stuff too. So He’ll show me how.
I found the article you posted on FB, and the subsequent FB conversation, extremely interesting. I agree with some of the points, to me blogging is more comparable to newspaper or magazine articles, rather than books. I believe blogging and books both have a place in the literary world. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that one is better than the other, as they both {in my mind} have a different, well, purpose isn’t the right word, as they both have the same purpose for me. I guess, I’ll just leave it at place, as I said before and hope to be understood 🙂 Personally, I write on my blog differently than I write in my books. And would venture to say that many bloggers that I read who have published books do as well.
I agree with what one person said, blogging is what you make of it.
Thanks for always creating an atmosphere of community here {and other places you write} where people feel compelled to share their ideas, and their hearts. You are a light in a dark place, my friend.
Thanks for all the sharing Deidra! I am posting at theantiblog.net and looking forward to be featured in Church 4 Chicks and Scotluman.org with a grace blog and devotional respectively.
I always keep a journal which catches my self-awareness writing and I am working some short stories and an elder interview project!
I look forward to reading your contribution to encourage!