Why blog? Why now?

Resurrection is a dangerous thing. It usually demands something or presents a risk. In this case it demands work, and risks readers knowing what I really think or something more about who I am. So why resurrect a thirteen year-old blog?  A few reasons. One, I want to work on my writing. I've always enjoyed writing and used to be ok at it. But like anything writing needs practice to keep sharp. Otherwise it becomes lazy, unfocused, and flabby. And there's nothing worse than lazy writing. Second, I have things to say. You may not care what I have to say and that is the beauty of America- you can totally ignore me. But just maybe, you might be challenged to think of something differently, or laugh a little, or share in my random observations on the world. 

What am I going to write about? That's a good question. I'm imagining an eclectic collection of posts about those things I'm passionate about- Jesus, people, travel, living, the world around us, and maybe a little baseball. Oh, and food. I'm very lucky in that I have life experiences many 80 year olds would be jealous of. I love to observe, analyze, and contemplate those experiences. I love people, cultures, adventure, and beauty, so I suspect I will write quite a lot about all these things. I may stray into current events just a bit, but I usually keep those conversations for just that: conversations. Most current event (er, politics) writing spirals into terrible places online, but when I do journey into those areas, you can be sure there are opinions aplenty to frustrate my most progressive and my most right-wing friends. I have a political sensibility I sometimes call "aggressively moderate". I cannot deny that I try to view most things through my conviction of how I should live my life as a follower of Christ. To my point earlier, that sometimes does not fit neatly into some of the boxes culture expects. 

My main goal is to hone communicating skillfully and organizing internally why I think what I think. My second goal is to be entertaining, or at least informative. I hope you become a reader. I hope to become a better writer and thinker. I hope to have some fun, and maybe learn just a little bit. 

Shawn