Thursday, January 06, 2022

The Beginning is the End is the Beginning

I started this blog on January 6th, 2005. That was 17 years ago today. I always got a kick out of the fact that this anniversary falls on Epiphany. 

In the earliest years this was a place for me to write through my discoveries of what pastoral ministry is about, peppered with random posts about Michigan sports and other topics. In those days I used this as a place to brain dump, basically posting whenever a thought popped into my head no matter the day or time.

I'm embarrassed about those years now, but I also recognize that they helped me develop my writing voice. And, at least from my perspective, that led to better content. And eventually it led to four books.

I can't tell you how many times I've thought about letting this go. I've taken breaks here and there, figuring that the moments when I've considered quitting were just low creative points that could be helped with brief sabbaticals. 

17 years is a long time to do anything. The number of my other commitments that have lasted this long is not very large. And this past year, there was a notable shift in how I approached this medium. It was a type of wearing down that another break was not going to fix.

All of this is to say that I think it's finally time to move on. No more hedging, no more hoping that things will improve. I no longer have the energy or interest in maintaining an online space where regular writing updates are the focal point.

On January 1st, I launched my new website at JeffreyANelson.com. It will include a blog component, but it won't be the focal point like it was here. I'll even re-post favorites from here from time to time.

I can never express enough appreciation for those who have kept up with this space. Your support of my writing has been beyond value.

In addition to the new site, the podcast will continue, as will the newsletter. And I still have four books. And I'm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I'm around in plenty of ways, and I hope you'll like and subscribe to all the things as part of that. 

It's not goodbye. It's see you at the new place.

Peace.

-JAN