My Part of the Conversation

If you were thinking I had given up on this blog, you were probably right. For much longer than my last post I’ve wondered why I still keep this thing.

For the longest time, I think my posts were the logical output for the title I stuck on the page. “Hopefully Meaningful Ramblings” is a prime example of something you name in a split second and are stuck with indefinately. Truth is, the blog became a lot of rambling.

But rather than bail on the whole idea, I’m drawn to the incredible opportunity having a blog offers. We live in an era where even the smallest people have a voice, and our voices can be heard on a world-wide scale. Technology, politics, religion, humor- no subject is off-limits. With this freedom comes responsibility, but the positives are worth finding the balance.

I don’t keep this because I need to be heard. Whether or not my thoughts are being read is not important to me. I just find myself on a journey hope that sharing my thoughts along the way helps someone with their own.

And I don’t keep this because I have found all the answers. I just tune you in to my part of the conversation, and hope that my words add to our understanding of this world and our place in it.

So welcome to my part of the conversation. I look forward to hearing yours.

Sincerely,

Blaine

I briefly stopped by Mike Cope’s blog recently, and he had linked this post from a member at his church.  He was writing in response to Shane Claiborne’s recent book “Irresistible Revolution” which I haven’t read yet, but plan to soon.  Anyway, it’s a pretty good post worth a read.

Lately, I haven’t really had time to post.  I’ve been crazily balancing between these things:

1. High School Spring Retreat.  It’s this weekend.  It’ll be a big group, and I’m excited about it!
2. Youth Banquent.  Next week!  We have to send our seniors on with style!
3. Honduras fund-raising.  Lots of little details to keep up with.  I’ve had some amazing volunteers heading up different individual fund-raisers, but I’ve had a lot of little details to keep up with.
4. Selling my car.  AHHHHHHHHHHHH.  This has been tough.  I sold it, and it broke down.  Twice.  The whole thing is still in limbo.
5. Painting my new truck!  I’m learning a lot, but can only work on it a little at a time.  I have taken pictures and hope to post all about it, showing my work in progress.  After a week, I still don’t even have all the paint stripped off.  I should finish next week.  Or the week after that.  After that, forget it, it’s too hot.
6. Spending time with my little family.  My little girl is sweeter by the minute.  Hudson will talk your ear off.  And hit you with a plastic golf club if you’re not watching.  He started running up to me, handing me a plastic golf club, running out of the room for another one, and starting a sword fight.  He says, “You’re Captain Hook.  I’m Peter Pan.”  I still want to be Peter Pan.
7. Kate’s been healing well, and it looks like we’re getting back into a normal routine.  Thanks all of you for your prayers.

I haven’t given up!  I’ll be back!

For the first time in the history of this blog, I’ve deleted an entire post and the comments within.  It was my longest post and received some of the most well-thought and well-written comments.  I know those who wrote took a lot of time to do so, and I appreciate them joining the discussion.

However, it was brought to my attention I was hard on our teens.  My intention was not to bring a burden to them or make them face one more area of rejection from adults.  But, in my own re-reading, that’s exactly what I did.  The place for that conversation was with them personally, not on this blog for all to see.  I intended to address the big picture, and more specifically, MY place in it.  I was intend to write about my own brokenness and part of the problem.  But, I didn’t communicate that at all, and kept a post that had a greater potential to hurt than heal.

Don’t get me wrong- I’m not afraid of people disagreeing with me or with each other on my blog.  In fact, I’m proud when I can provide a forum for meaningful discussion, even when it’s heated.  But I never want that to be personal or hurtful
I also did not intend to begin a discussion about LTC.  Our church has been actively supporting LTC for several years, and our kids seem to genuinely love it.  I have a few philosophical issues, but they are dwarfed in comparison to what is good.  I greatly appreciate the work our kids do and the incredible acts of giving time and energy our parents and other adults have done to make it possible.  I think the post made light of that service.
Also, my eyes have been opened by the example of some parents as to how much I need to grow as a servant.  I don’t need 12,349,812,450 words to say that.  They haven’t said anything to me about my need to change, but how clearly I have seen the face of Christ in them has convicted me of my own shortcomings.  What a blessing to have people like that!  They are leading and teaching by example, and I hope to become more like them.  I don’t want them to get even the slightest impression I was talking about them.
I apologize for taking down your well written comments.  I know they took a lot of thought, energy, and time.  Thank you for writing them.  I have saved them on my hard drive, if any of you wish to look back over them.  The conversation had a great tone and was a perfect example of how we should dialogue with people even when we disagree.  I just decided I didn’t like my post.  I wish I could keep the comments without the post, but I’m not able to without them not making much sense.
Thanks for understanding.

Sincerely,

Blaine Tucker

This article reminded me of one of my major pet peeves, which I thought would make an interesting post.

1. Misused or misspelled words.  Their/there, hear/hear, your/you’re, its/it’s.  Drives me crazy.

2.  Not using turn signals.  I’ve shared my frustrations with this before.  Nothing has changed.

3.  People who take up 2 parking places.  I don’t care if they have a big car.  That’s their problem.

Actually, I’m going to stop this post right now.  I need to focus on more positive things.