“You have got to start a blog.” If she said it once, she said it 100 times. I fussed and pushed back and then finally admitted that what was holding me back was coming up with a good name (that and I wasn’t convinced I had much to offer and who needs more drivel). She retorted that there was always room for more drivel on the web and since I do a decent bit of public speaking, use a line I found myself repeating. And out it popped.
The messy middle.
I am called to encourage people to move from the extremes of either grace at the expense of truth, or truth at the expense of grace and to live fully in the messy middle where we hold both. “That’s it,” she said; and so it was.
“I had no idea what I was unleashing when I encouraged you to start a blog.” If she’s said it once in the last year, she’s said it 100 times. Yes, The Messy Middle was birthed a year ago this week. Like any one who has invested considerably in something new, something that requires a lot of time, something that you invest far more than you ever thought you would, I am in awe of how this experience has challenged me, taught me, exposed me to new people, frustrated me, changed and caused me to look at my identity, and enriched me in ways I didn’t know it could.
We are going to have a week of remembering and celebrating. I’m going to try to hit all of the love languages (thanks Gary Chapman) so there will be
- Quality time (a post a day)
- Acts of service (we can’t just keep all this fun to ourselves, now can we?)
- Physical touch (Oh Saturday, come quickly! I’m super excited about this one!)
- Words of affirmation (The person who makes a comment that moves someone else enough to respond to their comment will get a gold star.)
- Gifts (see below)
As a thank you to current subscribers, you are eligible for a drawing next Monday in which one of you will get a $20 gift certificate to a business of your choice. For those of you who aren’t subscribed, I will be holding a subscription drive this week and will hold a drawing next Monday for all who subscribed this week. You too can win a $20 gift certificate to a business of your choice (like amazon, itunes, Starbucks, that kind of thing).Pass the word on, let’s get 100 subscribed this week! I am humbled that you find this drivel of value. It’s been a great year, eh?!
Amy
Leave a comment and let me know you subscribed or who you’ve encouraged to subscribe.
Congratulations on your year anniversary!!!! And I for one and VERY thankful that you started your blog. I VERY, VERY much enjoy it and very much encouraged by it. So THANK YOU Amy for listening to your friend. I love all of the blogs that my friend over in Asia and here in the states write.
I love that book 5 love languages by Gary Chapman.
Have an AWESOME week and enjoy your Saturday.
Thanks Tracie!
I love your blog…..and I know who SHE is! She can be pretty pushy, can’t she? hee hee
Chuckling with you … yes, she can :)
Ahem…….
um can i guiltily admit that im just now subscribing?
:) … never too late! And now you’re entered in the drawing!
I am excited to be catching up a bit (and subscribing again — seems like my last attempt failed, since I haven’t been receiving your post updates for a few weeks, though I thought I’d made the switch) to your blog thanks to JoAnn’s recommendation (made me realize that you were still writing, I just wasn’t getting the updates). Good reading. Keep it up.
Thanks Kevin … yeah, I thought I’d communicated with all that there were a few blips getting switched over but I knew that there had been a few holes! Sorry to have missed you and I’d glad you’re back! :)
Hi Amy,
I am new to your blog as you know from my only commenting recently. I would like to thank Janet for being so pushy. Thanks Janet. I look forward to the coming year. So does Janet take her own advice and have a blog?
Mark … glad to have you along! It’s actually Janet’s sister Joann who pushed me :) … and yes, she has a blog! joannpittman.com
I just noticed by my last comment that I was transported in time till Tuesday morning. I just wanted to let fellow readers know that the future looks pretty much like the present. Forge ahead with confidence.
Ha!
Happy Blogoversary!! Can’t believe you’ve only been doing this for a year- you’re a pro! Love your love languages approach :-)
Tanya you’re too kind!
Yippee! Happy anniversary! :) Whoop whoop!
And MB is just subscribing? Tsk tsk…but better late than never… ;)
I know .. right :)
Hey Amy! This just makes me happy. I’m excited to be reading your thoughts. It feels like I’m just sitting on your sofa with a cup of coffee. Thanks for sharing. I miss you!
Katie
Wish you WERE here with a cup of something warm :)!!
Oh and I subscribed :) Not sure how I never was subscribed before!?
Thanks :)
Loving your blog, Amy, for so many reasons! Looking forward to joining you back in Chiner in August! I’m subscribing. :)
Amy, I was in search of words of wisdom over the loss of the man I have loved over 11 years now. We knew it was coming but who can ever truly be prepared? I wouldn’t allow myself to worry about the day he’d die because I wanted to live exquisitely in the moment with him whenever we had the opportunity to be together. I knew nothing about love is easy but that it is worth ever bit of the struggles life adds to the mix. It’s the emptiness I feel, when I feel, that drove me today to find your site.
I am touched by the many words of love God has through your blog. I found more of what I needed here than anywhere for which I am deeply honored and grateful. Many of your entries spoke to me so I SUBSCRIBED knowing this is one of those moments that are meant to be a thread of gold in my life.
Lately I’ve found myself afraid to sleep for fear of dreaming or the possibility of not dreaming, quite the conundrum. My feelings are all over the map at the moment yet I’ve been down the path of grieving the loss of those I’ve loved so many times somehow I feel I deluded myself this time I’d be better with it. I suppose in a sense I am because I’m better at reaching out and finding what I need to find, or in truth better at listening to God’s inner promptings to get me there. After reading for a while, thoroughly intrigued in what I was gleaning from your lovely work I found myself sound asleep twice today in my office chair peacefully, waking rested despite my weary heart.
I know I’ll crash tonight more peaceful than all week while thinking of the positive uplifting words I have discovered in your thoughts honestly laid out in your blog.
Like you I am a writer but even we need new phrases that stir the pot simmering in the momentary mess of our lives, seasonings if you will that clean the palette and delight the senses with new wonders of sustenance.
Blessings, Aashdoda
Aashdoda, what an honor to meet you here. That God can take any of my words and use them in your life after you have suffered such a severe loss … is humbling. Thank you for subscribing and I look forward to getting to know you. Blessings back, Amy :)
p.s. I’ll hope for more sleep for you as I’d imagine you need some more rest.