Let the Story Be Told

Really it's an argument from silence, but in a non-traditional sense. Some of you, though not as many as I would probably like to believe, have probably noticed a major decrease in new blog entries this past year, more specifically since May. In some ways, it has been a freeing feeling for me to take a break from blogging, put the computer away to focus on other more important things: ie. my family. Specifically, last May, while away from home at an international conference, I spent a lot of time processing where I spend my time and energy. I knew that Andrea needed me more than ever during this season in our lives, and together we lamented to see the trajectory that Micah was on toward discouragement and negativism against everything present in his life (his sisters, his mom, his schooling, his lack of English-speaking friends, etc). And so, at that conference, I made the conscious decision that blogging, among other things in life, would be pushed to the back-burner of my life, for the sake of intentional investment in my family.

 

Now this all sounds very noble and good, after all, what does a man gain if he records a lot of nice stories but loses his family? At the same time, there is something very sad about it as well. I write blogs for at least two reasons. The first being the reciprocal relationship that is formed through the blog, that is the joy of welcoming others into experiencing our story while at the same time feeling loved and appreciated by those who take the time to read it. This hits two things that are very important to me: 1) being heard and 2) helping partners in ministry feel like they are a part of it.

 

The second reason that I write blogs is that it helps me process through life. When I set my fingers tapping on the keyboard, they often lead my mind to conclusions that it otherwise doesn't want to go to. When I read and reread the story I've written, new truths and lessons pop out in meaningful ways. In a sense, it’s a journal, but at the same time a conversation with myself that keeps me focused on what's important and why I'm here. It is this second reason that kept me writing, even when I felt like the blog's readership had tapered off (based on the only thing I have to go on, comments back to me).

 

In the past seven/eight months as I have neglected the blog, I have seriously missed the positive outcomes of these two reasons. More than ever, I feel the vast ocean that separates us from our partners back in the US, and, though maybe not directly related to the blog, I wonder if our partners would say the same from their end. At the same time, my failure to process life through this written means has seemingly taken its toll on my ability to rejoice in our life and ministry. For the first time in the past eight years, I frequently find myself without a “story to tell,” that is, I no longer rejoice in the “Story of God's Faithfulness” to us (as the blog is titled). It is not that God is no longer faithful, nor that he isn't writing his exciting story all around us, rather it is that I am not pausing enough to reflect upon that story in ways that nourish my soul and fan my passion into flame. This resulting starvation of my passion toward God and ministry is, I believe the most detrimental consequence of my decision last May.

 

Now, don't hear me wrong, my relationship with God is not solely dependent upon whether or not I write blogs. However, it brings to light something our Wycliffe resource coordinator (and friend) helped us realize a while back: recognizing, meditating upon and writing down the story of God's faithfulness, may certainly be considered a spiritual discipline. And so, at the beginning of 2017, I declare with new enthusiasm, let the story be told. And just in time, as we have the feeling 2017 will be a year filled with many exciting new adventures! J