Oh I been getting heavy into my reading
Oh I been listening to my favorite song
Well I could never keep down a force-feeding too long
Eat up whatever I want whenever I want
Well you're gonna meet the wall
When you think you've heard it all
And then you got nowhere left to go
Then you're gonna know
Where not to look for freedom
When you're inside your prison
And you're the only warden...
Tell me where to look for freedom
"Where Not To Look For Freedom" by the Belle Brigade
I picked today to write this note because it is my favorite day of Advent - the Day of Joy. And it is a joy to me and hopefully a joy to you when I tell you the reason for this note after such a long silence is to share two good things.
1. I have been resting
2. I am starting anew (not again, but anew) on January 1
The inside view from an amateur rester:
Resting did not come easily to me, so fortunately it came naturally - without my consent. I decided in June to take a 2 or 3 week break and come back after July 4th. But when I got ready to write, I found I had nothing to say. (Those of you who know me well understand what a shocking and odd thing that would be). So I decided to take a little more break time. I thought of scriptures, themes, ideas...but still - none of it made it to the screen. July ended and August began. I decided to start back when school started.
"I'll call it a summer vacation," I told myself. September became October and I realized I was nowhere near ready to return. I started justifying to myself:
- Work is really busy
- I'm doing a webcomic, starting another web outreach in Jan and writing a lot.
- I'm co-teaching a bible study requiring tons of prep time
- I'm writing Bible Curriculum
- I'm learning - It's not just like I'm sitting around.
Finally when I ran out of excuses - I asked God - "What am I doing with this blog? Am I quitting?" and Wise God said, "No, dear. You're resting." October and November have been much easier on my psyche.
I've been studying, and playing games. I've enjoyed reading other awesome blogs, and times when I didn't read a darn thing. I've been at the gym, comic conventions, watching netflix documentaries, and staring off into space. I have not been productive in the slightest in regard to this blog. It's been lovely.
 |
| Why wait for our "eternal rest" -- when I can start now? |
That's what rest does. It helps make us new. That's what Christmas does - The Christ child appears in our churches and in our hearts - a baby again. The newborn baby Jesus doesn't come "back" every year. He comes anew. Forget New Year's Eve -- Christmas is the day we can begin. Praise be to God.
So - Jan 1 - Notes from the Shepnerd will begin with its first new post and be updated on Sundays as per usual. However, I have such a flood of ideas - I would like some help in decision making. It is great for me as a writer to know what you - the readers - want/like/think/imagine from this blog. So, I did what any good ShepNERD would do -- I made a 5 question Survey Monkey survey. Input appreciated, and thankfully received.
And have joy -- not just today - but all days.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.Isaiah 9:6-7
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