What You Taught Me in 2013

What have you learned in 2013?

Hopefully, you've learned something. 

You might be one of "those" people who think a new year doesn't matter. You think that there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. If that's your thinking, then you couldn't be more right. 

You might be one of "those" people who like to bookend the years. You love the promise of what a new year brings. A fresh start with new (or renewed) vision for your life is refreshing. It brings about intentional change.

I happen to fall within the second camp. 

Where do you fall?

I always take inventory the last few days of the year--looking at successes and failures for the year. 

This is a rather massive task. 

Life has categories that appear to be set up nice and neat, but that are messy and spill into one another. Providing an example of how this looks would be a waste of your time, since you know all about it.

When you look at life like this, you can pull apart things that you've learned in a year. Lessons learned in life bring wisdom.

Here's what you've taught me this year:

1) I can write. 

Some of you believed in me long before I believed in myself. (Seriously, my eyes are sweating.) I began blogging to launch a speaking ministry. That failed miserably (lots of open dates for 2014 if you need a speaker), but for some reason more and more of you read and share the Gravy. Definitely, not bragging. I'm a far cry from C.S. Lewis or Jon Acuff, but it would be impossible to keep writing if I thought I sucked.

2) People care about their faith and church. 

Shocker! But it's easy to get cynical about Christianity in America. (It's a battle I fight a lot.) However, you show me daily that you care. Your faith and church do matter to you.

3) You can laugh at yourself. 

A lot of what I write is satire. Most of you get that; some never will. As Christians we do some crazy things that Christ never called us to (not that are necessarily sinful), but you are able to laugh about it.

4)  Growth comes and goes.

The last three months have brought a lot of growth and excitement. However, the next three might not. It's easy to get caught up in the numbers game. I've given too much power to the highs and lows. I'm learning blogging is a marathon, rather than a sprint.   

5) It's good to disagree, to be questioned, or challenged by readers. 

It has taken me two years to learn this. My first reaction (rather weakness) has been to go at people with guns blazing, but I'm learning that it's a good thing. Dialogue is better than monologue. So please disagree, question, or even challenge my words. I hope 2014 brings more discussion and comments from you.  

What have you learned in 2013?