I’m taking ProBlogger Darren Rowse’s “7-link challenge” for this week’s post. He says, “The idea is to publish a post that is a list of 7 links to posts that you and others have written that respond to the following 7 categories.” So here we go:
1. Your first post
It was just about a year ago that I started blogging. I burst onto the scene with a stunning post titled Social Media Frenzy. I’ve learned a lot since then. Most important, I’ve learned how much I need to learn!
2. A post you enjoyed writing the most
My Photo essay: A week on the beach was not only enjoyable to write, but also enjoyable to re-read. And I appreciate the comments I got from readers.
3. A post which had a great discussion
When I posted When Christians and nonChristians Collide, the comments people left were lengthy, profound, and generally respectful in spite of how passionate people are about their religious views.
4. A post on someone else’s blog that you wish you’d written
Joey Robert Parks of GhostWrite Pro authored the post Top 3 Reasons I Ghostwrite for a Living, and I really appreciate the clarity with which he captured some of my own feelings about writing.
5. Your most helpful post
This is an interesting category, and there are several posts I could choose as “most helpful,” depending on how I choose to interpret “most helpful.” In the end, I’m linking to my Thanksgiving Top 10 post. Not only was it helpful for me to review my past year of writing and thank God for the projects I’ve been privileged to be a part of, but also the post gave some helpful exposure to some of the great people I’ve worked with.
6. A post with a title that you are proud of
Honestly, I think Under the skin is a great title that I gave to Dave Brown’s post about cancer and race and unity. It has so many levels of meaning!
7. A post that you wish more people had read
In a sense, I wish more people had read Random observations about Classis Illiana. I think I said some important things, and it was helpful to have a forum to express what I was feeling. My unspoken hope was that this post might reach people in leadership levels in my classis and my denomination, that it might cause them to stop and think about how insular and trivial we often are, that it might spur some kind of revolution, calling people back to authentic Christian community. But I think the fact that it didn’t just confirms the feelings I had when I wrote it.
But that’s kind of a downer to end with! So I’m going to add another post I wish more people had read: From China to Glenwood: Adventures in diversity. This is a lighter, more fun post that still says some important things. It’s still about wanting to change the world, but it’s more about enjoying the process.
Thanks, Darren Rowse, ProBlogger, for encouraging us fellow bloggers to take the “7-link challenge,” and for giving us a forum to share with each other.
Fellow readers, were any of the posts I shared above new to you? Is there any topic you want to see more of? Less of? Let me know in the comments!
Mel,I loved the title and the editing you did for the Under the Skin post .I clearly saw the many levels of meaning and wished that I had thought of that title.I`m honored you posted something I was a part of. The tone of your writing for the Classis Illiana post made me examine why I had left the church at 17 years old .Your writing also made me commit myself to staying in the church ,this time, and being a part of any change no matter how small my part may be.Thank you for the work you do to post something new each week !
Thanks, Dave, you are too kind! I do appreciate your willingness to be a “guest blogger” here at Lifelines, and to share part of your personal journey with a wider audience. That’s an important part of being in community with each other, but it’s not easy, so thanks for your courage!