Oh, the Places We’ve Been

Remember just over a year ago? Do you recall how bleak your life was every Friday afternoon? You would check your inbox and find nothing but work, spam, and misery. There was no bright spot in your weekend, no resource for all topics nerdy, and no hope on the horizon. In short, you were experiencing life without this blog.

But then you met Past Watchful Dragons, and the sun came shining through the clouds.

Yessir, for a year we have been together, plumbing the depths of literature, the Lord, and life. We have examined a vast smattering of topics and a wide array of articles, and we’ve enjoyed every minute of it. (Right, guys? Haven’t we?) Well, I have, at any rate. And let me tell you, I have been so thankful for the comments and feedback you’ve given me as well. Sometimes it’s alright for me to know that I’ve sent my inmost thoughts out into the void, but it’s so much nicer when the void replies back to me. Thank you, and please keep it up!

I just wanted to take a moment to light this solitary birthday candle and bask in its orange flickers, reminiscing about where we’ve been and looking forward to where we’re going. Will you join me?

Where We’ve Been

This past year, I’ve really enjoyed having a blog to keep me writing, even though some of my posts seem to have come out of nowhere. You’d find most of these in the FYI category because they’re just that: a hodge-podge of thoughts for your information and enjoyment. I’ve talked about my past hiking adventures (and misadventures), about my enjoyment of all things spring, and even the shape of your mind. While these are just random odds and ends that I’ve found interesting, I hope you’ve found them interesting too.

But without doubt, my two greatest passions are literature and the Lord. That’s why the bulk of my posts fall somewhere in those two categories—with many of them falling at the intersection between the two. For literature, we’ve slogged through several lengthy series based on books that have had a big impact on me: C.S. Lewis’ science fiction trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien’s essay On Fairy Stories, and especially Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey. That one was quite a doozey, but I’m so glad we took 16 weeks to unpack it. (By the by, if you actually read the whole series, I’d be happy to send you some kind of trophy. You would deserve it.) We’ve also studied a couple of masterful poems and several awesome children’s books since those are two of the most powerful literary genres, in my humble opinion.

But we’ve also spent a great deal of time talking about Jesus. We’ve looked together at several passages of scripture, from parables about the kingdom of Heaven to the idea of Christian liberty and even our longing for consummation. Christian books have also played a big part in our time together: Every Moment Holy, Passion and Purity, The Pursuit of God, and King’s Cross, to name a few. And, last but not least, we’ve thought about the way Jesus factors into everyday life as the light, the hidden meaning, the hero, and the Savior. I know that she who teaches learns most, and that is certainly true for she who writes as well. Thank you for the opportunity to share what I’m learning with you!

 What I’ve Learned

And speaking of learning, I wanted to share a few things I’ve learned along the way this year. First of all, I’ve never claimed to know much about technology. I’ve always felt that paper is my happy place, and the digital realm is a necessary evil. But as I went about the process of starting a blog, I realized just how little I know about technology. I mean, I’ve had to do hours and hours of research just to figure out what the web host site was talking about, not to mention the time it took me to actually set the thing up! And while the result was far from fancy, it was adequate, and that’s good enough for me.

I’ve also learned that it’s well-nigh impossible for me to keep up with a blog, a book brainstorm, and a baby. One of them had to give, and I thought it wouldn’t be conscionable to neglect my tiny offspring. Also, I should be able to manage posting a blog article each week (although I won’t tell you how long it actually takes me to churn out these posts. I’m a slow writer, so it’s embarrassing). But the whole point of this blog was to help keep me thinking as I went about the process of trying to write a novel or three. However, while I took several running starts at a story idea and ended up with oodles and oodles of brainstorming, I wasn’t able to begin the book itself yet. I’ll never give up and never surrender, but it may be a hot minute before my child is self-sustaining enough for me to pick up the book brainstorming again. Harumph.

Finally, I’ve had a suspicion confirmed for me: literature is a broad topic with a narrow audience. While I think books are the cat’s pajamas, there are people out there who just can’t muster up that kind of enthusiasm. And I totally get that! Sometimes I find it difficult to get excited about calculus and spreadsheets. But while I can’t promise to stop writing literary posts, I can try to make them as interesting as possible, even to Joe MathGuy (of whom I am incredibly jealous, since that part of my mind failed to form). And if I do come across an interesting math concept, I promise to share that with you as well. But don’t hold your breath.

Where We’re Going

So with all that in mind, where are we going? Well, we’re going onward and upward! As wonderful as this year has been, I’m hoping that the coming year will be even more splendid. For starters, I’m hoping to improve some of the technical nitty-gritties. I’ve been looking for a way to make the email look as good as the blog page, but I haven’t been able to crack that code yet. In the meantime, I would love it if, instead of suffering through the poor layout of the emails, you would click on the title of the post and let it take you to the website! Then you can enjoy all the fruits of my formatting labors. But I won’t give up on fixing the emails yet. There must be a way. (Joe MathGuy is probably biting his knuckles in frustration, the answer being quite obvious to him. Sorry, Joe.)

I’m also, at least temporarily, ditching the pop-up ad that asks you to subscribe to the blog. Everyone said it was an absolute must, but I haven’t found that to be the case. I mean, pop-up ads are like that insecure quasi-friend who’s always pestering you to hang out. If you wanted to hang out, you wouldn’t need a reminder; you’d just call them on your own. Anywho, hopefully this will make it even nicer for people when they visit Past Watchful Dragons.

And as far as content goes, I’m hoping to do the same but more so. I’ll be sharing more about the literature I love in hopes that it will inspire love in you, too. I’ll share more about Jesus through the passages and books that impact me. And hopefully I’ll share even more about life—the quirky, everyday stuff that keeps existence interesting. And I truly hope to hear more from you, too! Your comments make my day.

Happy Birthday

We’ve come so far, and yet there’s still so much to look forward to! Thank you again for a wonderful first year of Past Watchful Dragons. It makes my heart happy to know that you’ve read and enjoyed the posts from time to time. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a birthday candle to blow out and a wish to make. And if you’d like, I’ll even save you a piece of the cake—but you’ll have to hurry.