The first post is almost paralysing. Trying to get it as close to perfect as you can. It has already held me back at least four months. Or life has, I could strongly debate both sides. It’s not my first, first post either. And all those old ones were quite rubbish, I tried too hard and that came across. This time I’m going more casual, and maybe this blog might stick around. I hope so.
What does one even say in the first post? An introduction perhaps, but that seems redundant because my total audience so far is zero. The first post really is for many years later, for when you have built a following and those that really connect with you decide to go back and see how it began. Hello, future readers, hopefully you are smiling at my clunky writing now because future me has vastly improved. Perhaps you are shocked at the lack of direction this takes because I am so on point in the future. Maybe you are googling on point because that phrase has been around a while and I think will vanish soon enough.
That’s what I need to talk about. Blogging. Old school. I’ve tried the social media thing and it is exhausting. How can you make any sort of noise in a whole assembly of shouting, angry opinions. Posting on social media also means you need to open social media and I am fighting to reduce that. It saps your energy in an instant yet it’s addictive so you keep on scrolling. I scroll to search for the hidden treasure buried among the angst and sarcastic memes. Those rich nuggets that cause me to pause, to screenshot to show my husband, and to ruminate on throughout the day.
It’s time for my own online place. A blog, where I can’t be censored and where I’m not feeling like I have to jump up and down for attention. I’m the person sitting in the corner of a party where people can come chat with me; not the one in the middle performing to an audience. Crafting words and creating stories is one of my favourite things to do.
So, hello. I know you are here for the words and that is what I will give you. Thoughtful, constructed posts about the Christian life. Because my life has changed to the point that it has flipped, all by the grace of God. I prayed a lot over the last couple of years about my writing, about all the lost words and what I was supposed to do with them. This blog was the idea that popped into my head and now is the time for me to push publish. In prayer I told God I would do the words, but I would hand over the rest to him. I would be faithful and know He will guide the way and that these words would find those who need them. Welcome, I pray these words maybe be fruitful for you.
Elissa Johnston 