Not the End of Living Wittily.

I started this blog 11 years ago. The aim was to stimulate thought, discussion and engagement with other perspectives and other folk's ways of looking at the world. My own perspective is Christian, with every attempt at being open, respectful and helpful through my writing.

Over the years the blog platform has become much less popular as social media has moved on to formats that are more immediate, integrated and demand shorter time to write, read and respond to. The down side of that is the move away from longer more considered pieces, impatience with carefully constructed argument, and habituation to the transient immediacy of alternative smartphone friendly social media.

All of which raises the obvious question of whether a blog is worth the bother. Who reads it anyway? Why write when the number of hits on a given day is now low enough to force the questions of why bother, who reads it anyway, and is there a better use of my time? I'm not the only person asking these questions. I have a number of blogging friends whose blogs are now all but dormant and who have moved on to other things. Maybe blogs have had their day.

But. Writing is for me an enriched form of thinking. It is an act of self discovery as much as self expression. I write to think, and to think through, and to think again. More deeply still, to write can move from thought to reflection, and now and then to enter that stream of meditative movement towards understanding, which moves towards wisdom, and the eventual and occasional joy of discovering what you did not think you knew, and wouldn't have known you knew if you hadn't sat down, started writing and thus started looking!

I write as a theologian, as a Christian minister, but also, and just as importantly, as someone whose values and life passions are deeply rooted in whatever enables human life to flourish. In that sense I am a humanist, whose educational focus both in learning and in teaching, has been the humanities, and who since I read the words as a boy, has tried to "look humanely forth on human life".  

This post is not to announce the end of Living Wittily. But it is to reiterate the "end" of Living Wittily, that is, its goal, purpose, and what makes it worth my while doing the writing, thinking and sharing. Eleven years ago I wrote my rationale for keeping this blog and doing the work to maintain it with fresh writing and thought. You can read it over here. I don't see the need to change any of that, but it does remind me of the possibilities and opportunities of having a place to think, write and seek the fellowship of other readers.

To those who do happen by this blog, regularly or occasionally, thank you for the time and interest, and feel free to leave a comment. Shalom, and may peace grace your life and your living.

 

 

Comments

[ANGELA ALMOND]

Thank you for this blog, Jim - I regularly prune my 'blogroll' - and over the past 10 years, many bloggers have come and gone - but Living Wittily remains a favourite. But I never cease to find your posts thought-provoking, challenging, laugh-out-loud-funny...they have often helped me straighten out my muddled thinking, or encouraged me that maybe I am not that crazy after all! Best wishes for 2018

[Jim Gordon]

Thank you Angela - always glad to persuade people they are not crazy after all :) Facebook has replaced a lot of the shorter more occasional forays into social comment, and that can also be fun, thought provoking and occasionally takes a less helpful turn. Living Wittily remains the place where self expression and self discovery overlap in the disciplines of writing, reading and thinking. All good wishes for 2018 to you two too!

[John Rackley]

I echo what Angela has said in appreciation of your blog. In particular for the relationship between expression, discovery you highlight and I would go on to add the outcome in action and character. I began my blog as a way of self-expression after leaving behind a life of preaching in the context of the local church. I have not written a blog for awhile. This has been mostly to do with what life brings in on the tide but I have also to admit that I am struggling with what I have always found with the blog is the lack of a specific context. I do not know who is reading me. I do not know what purpose I might be serving as they do. Should I be my own context?
I suppose this need for the context of knowing who the reader is what has drawn many to the more immediate forms of social. I find little attraction in these sketchy alternatives. But I also only watch cricket when there is a test match and have no time for the short forms of the game. This tells me much about myself of course.

[Zach Dawes, Jr.]

Jim, as I'm sure you know, I am a regular visitor to and reader of your blog. I appreciate your thoughtful and thought-provoking reflections. I'm also grateful to share some of them with our readership at EthicsDaily.com. I look forward to continuing to read (and learn from) your insights.

[Jason Goroncy]

I love your blog, Jimbo. And the reasons you name for why it’s ‘worth the effort’ to keep going (I am speaking to myself here) are among the very reasons why reading [good] blogs is so much more satisfying than what one finds on the alternative you name. And then there are our beloved and absolutely irreplaceable books ...

BTW. I send these thoughts from Thailand, one of my other second homes. I must find a way, and/or paid excuse, to visit the one in the far north again too.

Pax.

[Kate]

I'm glad you're keeping on keeping on, Mr Gordon. I do enjoy reading your posts and looking at your pics from time to time. It's good to know that it has value to your own journey (besides the numbers). I recognise, too, though, the investment of time and energy that goes into blogging (and regularly, and well, at that!). And I'm grateful for the sane little space here that you keep so nicely. Thank you!

[Kathy]

Pastor Jim,
I read your blog! Your writing helps me understand life and faith. Often your topic draws me to a new place I would not have encountered on my own. I find myself standing on land somewhere in Scotland with you, or reading the words of a poet or mystic. I often think about what you have written and/or look up an author or topic you mention. Our backgrounds are so different, and yet you have the ability (with the grace of His Spirit) to help me stay grounded in Christ. I often read your blog and think yes, Amen. You reach more people than you know, since I have forwarded your blog posts to family and my Pastor.
Thank you for sharing with us and for helping us "to flourish".
Kathy in NJ, USA

[Jim Gordon]

Thank you to each of you for your comemnts and encouragement. Now and again an email or comment is like a wee hello confirming the worthwhileness of this writing space. May each of you discover the good roads that go to new places, the mountains with the best views and well worth the climb, and those corners and crossroads, paths and fences that make us think and choose and keep going and climb over our hesitations and fears about what matters most.