Reminiscing
Looking back over this past year of blogging, I can sum up my experiences in one word:
CRAZY
And of course, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Crazy in a good way . . .
If you’ve been with me from the beginning, you’ll know that I got voted into this position after a little healthy competition, which in itself is crazy enough right there. You can read more about that experience here, but what’s really funny is the last line of that blog entry: “[Kent] was quick to announce the happy news, and the rest, for better or worse but probably worse, is history . . .”
I was a wildcard when Kent "hired" me, a relative unknown from the deep South nobody really knew, so 90&9 was really taking a chancey plunge by bringing me on board. There've been times since that I'm sure Kent wondered, "Uh-oh, what I have gotten my e-zine into?" Nevertheless, he's always believed in me, and even seemed to be sorry rather than relieved when I told him it was time for me to go!
Crazy in a fun way . . .
Probably the best part about blogging is how many people I've met over the Internet and how many friends I've made that way, even getting the chance to meet some of them. Blogging for Apostolics has really opened my eyes not only to the diversity we have out there, but also the quality.
There's nothing quite like the feeling I got when someone e-mailed me to tell me that something I wrote affected in them in some way, helped them make a decision, or inspired them to do something. I loved reading everyone's thoughts and comments, and I enjoyed the conversations that ensued as a result. I've gotten e-mails from as far away as Europe, Japan and Australia, proving that the blogging community has shrunk the globe even smaller.
Crazy in a weird way . . .
Blogging can be, at times, pretty weird. Here I was, baring my soul to a computer screen on a weekly basis, for people I knew nothing about. Meanwhile, my critics -- and I had a disappointingly low number of them -- seemed to feel free to judge me from the safety of their utter anonymonity. I have to say it wasn't easy for this people-pleaser and approval-seeker to face disagreement, but I tried to see Christ in everyone's words and take them to heart rather than dismiss them out of hand. I also tried to develop thicker skin, which Kent advised from the beginning was "necessary in this business!"
Crazy in a life-changing way . . .
I'm finding that whenever I set out to minister to people, I find myself being ministered to by those people even more! I'm learning that a ministry is as much for the spiritual growth of the minister as it is those being ministered to. So, I'd like to thank everyone of you who wrote me, sent me cards, sent me presents, invited me into your homes, and yes -- even verbally disagreed with me at times! -- for touching my life in a way that I'll never forget. I'm sorry if that sounds sappy, but sometimes a little mush is necessary to really convey how you feel, you know?
And by the way . . .
I found out who the next primary blogger will be. You've had some exposure to him/her before, and I really think you're in for a treat!
Tomorrow: Why it's time to go and the question you all seem to want to know: will I be blogging somewhere else?
Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.
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