I've been thinking for a while about my first post. I actually have a couple of drafts that are partially complete, but I haven't finished them.
The first post is a major thing. It's quite simply the first impression. If something significant or mindblowing isn't said, why would anyone want to come back to read the second post?
A couple of years ago, Tracy and I went on a trip to Israel and Turkey. This picture is me climbing up to the top of a mountain overlooking the ruins of a town called Prienne. Only, I'm not really climbing. There is another ledge about two feet below me. All I'm doing is posing for a picture. If I lose my grip, I'm not going to fall to my death and be splattered all over the rocks below. I might simply get a little grass stain on my pants.
So anyway, who cares if this post is a big deal or not (I can tell you right now that it is both a big deal and not all at the same time)? I've begun. And beginning is half the battle.
Someone once said, "A lot of people out there are looking for a fight because they're not in one." I think that's right. I also think there are a lot of people wandering aimlessly through their lives just working, buying things, talking gibberish, texting gibberish, and falling asleep at night acutely aware that they're lives are not what they once imagined them to be. And I'm not talking about them not becoming a fireman like they dreamed as a child. I'm talking about more recent dreams. The dream of graduating high school and being out on your own so you could do things as you liked. Or the dream of graduating from college so that you could go out and conquer the world. After all, aren't the people in power screwing up this world without you. Maybe if people were more like you, the world would be a better place.
And yet each week I come to work and look busy; go to meetings and appear worn out from all of the hard work I did that day; drive home and make dinner for an ever-appreciative wife who doesn't think she does anything around the house because I am making dinner after having such a difficult day. But all of this is just keeping myself busy to avoid reaching the conclusion that I'm not really going anywhere. I haven't begun any sort of journey, I'm just always preparing for it. My mind is an overloaded, blue, Lowe Alpine hiking pack filled with clothes, sleeping bag, camera, extra batteries for that camera, rain fly, tent, insect repellent, iodine (in case I need water from a stream that a bear peed in), compass, sandals, matches, food, a fork and knife set, water bottles, extra fleece...and a map of places I'll never get to unless I start my journey.
My mind tells me I should have a great blog that begins with a great post. I'd settle for a post that got me going on a narrow trail at the base of a great mountain. It doesn't need to be great. It just has to start the journey...
Okay, how sweet is this! My wife turned me on to this website. I hope I can use these pictures during morning sermons!
