Wowza! It’s been a while since I’ve written in this here online journal of sorts. I hope this finds you well and warm.
Truth be told, I got pretty overwhelmed during the ‘22 holiday season. I’ve been taking full loads at seminary (averaging 6 classes per semester; but I’m DONE in May, PRAISE!!). And then, tack on my church duties, being a dad, a husband, a citizen, a friend, and all of the other things…
You get the point.
(You probably even relate, in your own way. Anyhow…)
I decided a long time ago that if I wanted longevity in blogging (yes, I still call it that), I’d need to give myself permission to go MIA every now and then. So that’s what I did.
But it sure is always nice coming back.
Over my break from the bloggy wog, I’ve been reflecting a bit about what I want to do/not do here (it’s always fun - and healthy - to make changes during time away). Here’s what I came up with…
First, I’ll say, I love daily blogging. I’m more productive when I get in a daily rhythm. Before I took a break, I was attempting to post every weekday (and one day on the weekend). It felt great!
Until it didn’t. And my personal/church life got too busy.
That’s when I went (as I do) into this all-or-nothing mentality. And since I couldn’t go with the ‘all’ option, I shifted into ‘nothing’. For almost two months!
That just won’t work.
I’ve been so inspired by the Substack of the great living prophet and poet,
. Particularly, I love her posting schedule. She posts regularly, yes... But not on a schedule. She seems to post when the Spirit moves her to. Which is every other day (sometimes), every few days (at others), and every single day (when she’s on a roll).Also, I appreciate her liberal use of digital mediums… Most of the time, she records a little (VERY unpolished and unscripted) video from the foot of her bed.1 But sometimes she writes. Or shares a photo with a little blurb underneath it. Sometimes, she records a short audio note. How cool! I want to go this route. This is what’s so great about Substack: it allows for ultimate creative output. Why not take advantage?
Another thing that I realized is this: this blog is not church. One day (prayerfully, by the spring/summer of this year), I’ll be assigned to a real church. And when I’m there, I’ll have a website with all kinds of churchy resources to share with you if you’d care to take a look (and if there isn’t one wherever I get assigned, I’ll make one). But this here blog is more of a public personal journal/thought catalog of mine.
Now, I’ll say… Being that I am a soon-to-be ordained pastor/priestly person in the church (again, prayerfully), churchy stuff is part of my DNA. So you’ll get a lot of it. But I’m just not sure if I’ll post structured weekly prayers, lectionary readings, etc. What I’ll end up doing is linking to my ACTUAL church materials when that time comes.
Okay, well, that’s enough for now. I just wanted to check back in and see if you still remember me:) I look forward to posting here on a more regular basis. Happy Epiphanytide to you and yours.
As Ever,
Jonas
Now, I completely understand that Patti Smith could probably get away with showing up on camera and picking her nose every day and people would love it. I also know that I am not Patti Smith.
Of course we remember you Jonas, miss your daily emails , hope you and your family keeping well, good luck with everything. X
Welcome back, you busy priestly scribe. I knew a fellow who wasn’t Catholic, more of a curious agnostic. But he’d often come to mass on Sunday just for the priest’s outstanding homilies, which often explored parables from contemporary movies, or lessons from great books, or even everyday stories with a lovely message for spiritual and life guidance. I think your wisdom can be similarly dispensed here, to the delight of believers and non-believers. Whether written, recorded, or video-taped.