Five years ago, I started this blog.
- Five years.
- Half a decade.
- 1826 days.
- One-ninth of my life.
- 555 posts.
Who knew it could be done? I certainly didn’t . . . not back then. Back then, I was just a little girl dreaming about collected words—thoughts yet unreleased in the previous eight-ninths of my life. Back then, I didn’t know a thing about blogging; I just dove in one day, swimming in the thought of it all, and here I am, five years later still paddling my arms and drifting with the current wherever it carries me.
I never thought it would last this long. Never. Honestly, I never had a plan. I’ve just kept at it, one word at a time. Looking back, I’ve crammed a lot of life into these past five years and chronicled it accordingly. A recorded history of messy faith wrestled out in front of an audience.
Interesting then, that I should I come across a passage of scripture this week, undetected by me in the entirety of the nine-ninths known as my journey on planet earth.
“Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages of their journey. This is their journey in stages:” (Numbers 33:1-3, NIV)
A journey in stages. Forty years. Forty stops along the way. Chronicled at the command of the Lord. A recorded history of messy faith wrestled out in front of an audience—us.
Why? Because maybe, somewhere in the Israelites’ stages—those “starting places” according to the New American Standard Version of the Bible—we find ourselves, and we collect God’s strength for the journey ahead.
Our path to Canaan is not unlike the one the Israelites traveled. There are many stages along the way. Pauses that shape us; pauses that launch us. Starting places, not ending ones. No, never ending ones, not yet. The Lord hasn’t set us on this course to finish us here. Our finish comes later—in a stage just beyond this one. Until then, we mark our course, and we leave a trail of faith so that those who step behind us won’t have to wonder where we’re headed.
I suppose that’s the sum total of what’s been done over these past five years—this one-ninth of my recorded history. Stages and starting points of a messy, unglamorous faith. In it all, I hope that I’ve written more truth than fiction, more faith than doubt. Most importantly, I pray that these posts serve as sign-posts–not so much in regards to where I’ve been, but even more so to where I’m heading.
Thank you for walking alongside me, readers, and for allowing me to join you in your journeys of faith these past five years. It’s been a beautiful stage of grace, a starting point for many deep, enduring friendships. It’s hard for me to imagine another five years’ worth of words at this cyber address, so I won’t go there . . . won’t plan a moment of it. Instead, I’ll walk on in faith and with gratefulness for every seed of grace that’s grown in this place.
This is my journey in stages.
I walk it with Peace.
I SO look forward to your next phase. Congratulations on these past 5 years of such significant and honest communication of your heart & truth. ♥
I don’t know how our paths crossed, Rebecca, but I’m glad for our connection. Visiting your place is like a visiting the Indiana home of relatives . . . like coming home in a way.
I THINK our paths crossed via Donna – who introduced me to blogging! I see Donna,since she lives nearby, but she doesn’t blog as much as she used to…..
And Elaine, I’m so very HAPPY that God put blogging in your world ! You’ve been such a blessing to me! And that’s how I even met you in the first place…your blog!
Love you my faithful friend!!
Marilyn
You were one of my early readers too, Marilyn. What a kinship we share – a lifelong friend and beyond! Thanks for being here.
Happy blogaversary! I think I found your blog just a few months after you started. I distinctly remember thinking as I read…that woman has an extraordinary gift!! I’m so grateful to have discovered through your words these last five years — writing is but one of many gifts you possess. You teach, challenge, humble, inspire, encourage, pray, love. You’re authentic and honest in a way that challenges all of us to do likewise. (Pretty rare when you consider the ease at which identities can be manipulated in such a virtual world.) I can say with absolute certainty….i love Jesus more because of you and your words. I look forward to seeing what awaits on the next leg of your journey.
One of my earliest readers! I’m so glad for the enduring friendship we share, especially through the peaks and valleys. We’ve had some, have we not? Love you.
It has been such a privilege to get to know you through your writing. May God continue to pour His Words into your heart in the next stage of your life.
I feel the same, and I am so excited for all the new ways God is using your words to bless others. Congratulations on the book deal! I’ll be first in line for a copy or two or ten.
My new journey has already had starts and stops. Last week I wondered if God was trying to tell me that this was not the journey for me, but as you’ve reminded us, even Moses had starts and stops. So, I will continue to ask Him if this is my intended path, and keep on walking in humble faith that He is beside me.
XOXOXO,
Brenda
Good to hear from you, Brenda. I miss not knowing what’s going on in your life. Let’s talk soon as you are able.
Time sure flies. I don’t remember when I started following your blog, but I’m so glad I found you. I also didn’t realize that you started blogging not too much before me…my 5 years is coming up next month.
The song you wrote for me during my cancer journey is so dear to my heart! I’m glad for the history we share, Deborah.
Moses journeyed in stages? I LOVE it. Then consider me Aaron, a fellow sojourner encouraging you through the next stage and lifting your arms when you get tired.
Rejoicing with you. Five years! To God be the glory.
I’m counting on it, sister. Your “Aaron-ness” is apparent in all you do.
Dear Elaine, Congrats on 5 years of your beautiful and amazing Blog! I remember being here at work, and reading your very first entry, to say I was proud of you, would not do my feelings that day justice! I was just beginning here at the TV station, and you were beginning something very special! I had so much hope for both of our new ventures, and you helped me ways that I can’t even write.. Thank you for always being a bright light here on Earth, and in my life and our families! I just knew your Blog would be a bright light as well for everyone! 🙂 You and all your success warms my heart, and gives me hope~ God Bless You, sweet cousin, and Thank You for being a beautiful light for us all~ I LOVE you so much, and am in daily awe of your words and successes!! Thanks for being a beautiful leader for so me, and so many! Sincerely, Carol Lynn
Well since we can’t do life face to face, cousin, this has been a beautiful way of connecting our hearts together. Thank you for your heartfelt words of support and for the joy you bring to this earth. You’re a treasure!
wifeforthejourney:
A wonderful chronicle of faith, messy perhaps, but authentic through and through. Selfishly, I love being able to look back at your writings and see how your story is tied tightly to our story and husband and wife. Though this blog is your turf and I can take no credit for the time and talent you have invested here, I love knowing that we are living this journey together. With just a few clicks, I can watch our older boys become men and our little kids turn into pre-teens. So today I’ll celebrate “year five” with the rest of blog-land, and echo the comments of how your faith continues to be a source of strength, encouragement and joy to your readers.
Thanks for your constant reminders that even though life is often a mess, Jesus still wants to be our peaceforthejourney!
Love you,
Billy
Husbandforthejourney,
I don’t suppose I’m done yet . . . taking pictures and putting words to memories! I pray that somewhere down the road, our children will also collect memories in this place. If not here, then in those large, 3-ring binders that hold copies:)!
ps: I love being your wifeforthejourney.
Love Tied to a Tree…
Of course as soon as I saw this post hit my inbox that’s what came into my mind.
Can it really be 5 years! It seems like just yesterday w/ a lifetime of up and downs doesn’t it? Walking with you in prayer as you wrote two books, battled cancer, moved from one place to another, home schooling, older kiddos heading to school, mission trips… you have shared so much. Thank you my friend for sharing your life and your faith with so many of us. I am so grateful that the Lord blessed me 5 years ago as your post Love Tied to a Tree caught my attention! How we are bound together by the love that hung on a tree so long ago…
I am blessed by you dear Elaine… my prayer is that sometime in the next five years can meet in the flesh and enjoy some wonderful sisterhood bonding time!
Much love to you my friend!
K
I would like nothing better, Kristen. You’ve brought fond remembrance to my heart today as you have remembered. Truly, you are one of the charter members of this community. And when you were writing more, I loved looking over your “backyard fence” and seeing life through your heart and pen. Thank you for all the support over these 5 years!
And thanks for all the BL bowls of icecream as well!
Love, love love this and i love you!
Yes, it’s where we are going.
I met with some broken women who have lived life in spiritual slums with broken families, drugs, abuse, mental illness and have messy messy lives. The smoke in their home was nauseating to me, I left with the scent of it drenching my hair…but I knew that the scent of Jesus was left in the home after I prayed with them…and I believe He is going to redeem it all.
Your words also fragrant with His truth, I take them with me. Share your story sometimes in the women’s lives. Story of enduring faith in the God who is all satisfying.
Takin’ some with us on the journey…
God bless the next five rich years!
love,
Kathy
Thank you for serving in the hard places, Kathy. God is using your warrior’s heart to change the landscape of planet earth!
Praying peace over your next five years, love you.
Your encouragement is a welcome grace in my life, Denise. I pray a thousand blessings back to you as you administer God’s love to others.
Elaine, congrats on five years of blogging — and living out your faith here among us. I hit my 5-yr. blogging month last September. I can’t remember how quickly we connected after you started blogging, but I’m oh so glad that we did. It’s been such a blessing to get to know you here and over on my blog as well. What a joy to live out our faith together. Many blessings, my friend!
I don’t remember either, Cheryl. Doesn’t much matter; what matters is the friendship we share that will carry over into eternity.
So good to ‘see’ this post 🙂 And your journey has been a blessing and inspiration to us all.
Thank you, Shirley, for being here and for holding my hand these last few years. You’ve been a light in my darkness.
You are dear to me and I thank God I “met” you in the space. Thank you, thank you for your ministry here.
You know I feel the same. I pray our paths might cross on this side of heaven.
Not sure how long I have followed you Elaine, but I do know the profound effect soo many of your words have had on my life! I have found wisdom, inspiration, encouragement, laughter and tears and comfort here, and how grateful I am to have found you. HUGS!
Thank you, Debbie, for your words of kindness. I think we all inspire one another, do we not? Knowing you’re out there,along with all the many readers who’ve posted here, buoys me along in my journey. Oh the party we’ll have in heaven – a bloggers’ tent that stretches long and wide, high and deep. Love you sister.