The Real Questions – My First Blog

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is:
‘What are you doing for others?’”   – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Icy birch branches lash the siding and roof of our house this wintry morning. For hours it’s sounded like showers of corn. Sassafras sway wildly under the glassy weight of a February storm beyond my window– a good day to hunker down and work on my blog.

I should have known – beginning a blog isn’t a walk in Blue Spruce Park. If all goes as planned (with technology, that’s a big “if”), I’m launching my own website today.   

Having a website enables me to blog, one more place I get to share hope. I love that!

Yes, I know there are over 575 million blogs, so I’m not holding my breath thinking many people will stumble down my rabbit hole in the virtual world – but all good things begin small. 

I expected techie challenges, attempting this. My brain isn’t wired for it – I’m more a typewriter kind of girl, yet soon –even today! – you should be able to find me at janwoodard.com and my first blog, rooted in this Indiana Gazette column, “The Real Questions.”

When you visit, please consider leaving your name and email, so I know who you are! The tabs may even work, if kinks are resolved – one of them, Prayer Cafe, will soon be a place to join our prayers together.

Someone, younger than I, labeled my generation digital immigrants and younger folks digital natives. What appears logical to a 20-something web guru is a jumble of questions in my fuzzy head, still foggy at times from chemo.

Which is why I’m grateful for the expertise of our talented Kenyan granddaughter, Fiona. Now an IUP graduate student, she not only knows her way through the maze, she brightens my days as she leads me along this virtual path into the unknown.    

Before starting this process, I garnered wisdom from other locals with websites. Besides Fiona, I talked with Marian Fiscus, Natalie Glaser, Barbara Croce, Bob Santos and Janice Dembosky. Five of the six are published book authors, my role models. 

The most surprising thing about beginning a blog are the gut-level questions it stirs: 

Am I making a difference for anyone?

Will you be encouraged by this?

Is God leading me in this venture?

The Bible says rend my heart and not my garments, but nobody warned me blogging would rip into my deepest intentions as a woman of faith. God cares more about my honesty and heart condition than anything else. If our hearts are ruthlessly honest and right with Him it’s likely we’re on the right path.

Here’s another key question, as a believer who blogs:

“Did I linger in God’s presence, today?”

Trust me, my faith ride hasn’t been all smooth sailing. (Or in my case, kayaking.) We have our ups and downs, God and me. Car-crashing, muscle-aching, heart-grieving moments of questioning.

And breast cancer. There’s that.

An alarm rang in my head when my cell phone reported I averaged two hours and 18 minutes of cell phone use, last week. Good grief, while my hubby Jim averaged 18 minutes a day! Guess I need to ask with this new venture, “What are my priorities?”

The place to begin is in the Word. Spending time there empowers me to do everything else, assured all will be well. Writing and most of my spiritual walk are solitary activities; listening for God’s voice quiets my heart to be open to receiving messages from people through face-to-face and text-to-text contact. 

When I’m not walking my dog and doing the usual, I relax over tea with friends through a cancer support group, prayer and church groups, with international students, and with folks who are passionate about writing, reading books, bird-watching and helping immigrants adjust to life in America. 

I expect I’ll meet people in this virtual place. I shiver a bit, opening this window on my soul, yet swing the shutters wide, in awe of God calling me to a bigger vision as he binds hearts across space.   

What are your passions? Others only know your hopes and hurts when you gather courage and open up to someone. Whatever we face and care about, we’re not alone. Friends stand with us. And God surrounds us. He’s a constant when all else changes. 

It’s messages like this one from Sarah, a young mom and cancer survivor, that push me to reach out to new people: ‘You eloquently write the words that are in my heart. Your survivorship encourages all who read your heartfelt posts!”

Henri Nouwen said the real questions in life are:
  Did I offer anyone peace today?
  Did I forgive anyone, release anger and resentment, speak healing words of love?

Whatever else I do, what matters most is simply: “Did I love well?”

In the end, that’s the big question.

And the only one that matters.

All will be well. 

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 says you’re not alone  
New Living Translation
*****

“Jesus prays to Abba in the Bible. It means Papa. I almost feel like an eavesdropper when Jesus says it — except He’s my Abba, too”

                                                                                – Jan Woodard