Some of those who stand out were:
Mitch, a young, idealistic, pastor who served in the same denomination I was part of at the time. He was my first blogging friend. He doesn't blog any longer and the last time I saw him he's not so idealistic. Full-time pastoring can take a toll.
Rodney worked in Christian radio and youth ministry in Australia. He's still around, now working for Compassion International's Australian Division, putting out a podcast, and doing some serious mountain biking.
Josh was another youth minister. His love for the Andy Griffith Show and all things Mayberry were infamous. I don't know what ever became of him.
Simone was a pastor's wife. A woman of color with a beautiful soul who shared the joys and trials of her life and who encouraged me greatly at times. She proved with such love and grace that race does not have to divide us. We are all God's children. Simone has also left blogging as far as I know.
Paul was a gentle soul, a cowboy poet from the Texas hill country, who chose to do his blogging and sharing of God's speaking to his heart from a local coffee shop. I believe I may have heard Paul passed away some time ago. He isn't blogging at any rate.
Then there were dear friends Elaine and Yvonne who both walked away without looking back, deciding they couldn't live with my political views. That was during the 2012 election season. Neither blogs these days, that I'm aware of. Both are on Facebook and Yvonne did reach out last year with a friend request. Her political beliefs are now in line with mine. The friendship really isn't there, though.
And finally, there was Dr. John. Dr. John was a Lutheran minister and the most beautiful of souls. His health was not good. He blogged to keep himself busy and to create a community. And what a community he created!
He had a wonderful imagination and along with tales of his life he spun the story of a magical world he created and the adventures of its inhabitants. He also wanted to spark creativity in all of his readers so each week he'd hold a writing contest. The winner would get some silly prize he'd picked up at the dollar store. The week I won, I received a little frog dressed as a wizard...and a saffron bun (the most wonderful food in the world according to Dr. John). The frog wizard, he said, was to remind me that "there's something beautiful...a little bit of magic in every blog."
I learned by chance, in a comment on another blog, that he had passed away. The frog wizard has been smiling at me from my desktop every day for a dozen years or more, reminding me to look for the beautiful, the creative, and the magic.
* My little frog is the second from the left in the photo above.
Most bloggers I have "met" in blogland are so nice. YOu have some great memories of blogging friends. Good post. Have a good day. :-)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about your blogging friends of the past. I've met a lot of friends too and many are no longer blogging, but I keep making new friends along the way. I have prayed for many and I know they have prayed for me also.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! I, too, have often wondered "what ever became of so-and-so?" -- and tried looking them up on social media. Not to 'friend' necessarily, but more a reassurance. Then there's whose identity I never knew. Gosh, I hate loose ends!
ReplyDeleteYour Dr. John sounds like a wonderful person; that's neat you've got the froggy to remember the good times.
Crazy political issues divided even then. Geez.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of a few old blogger friends the other day too & wonder what happened.
Its funny how they stick with you, isnt it?
How great that you have such good memories of early blogging friends. I think I have lost four or five to death, several just faded away, and more are just on FB now. I enjoyed this post, Stacy. xo
ReplyDeleteThat was a very interesting story, magically woven about some of your previous blogging friends. Isn't it interesting how we each bring something a little different to the blogging table, and how we can learn from each other special little gifts that linger in our minds? It makes one stop and think about what kind of influence we really have here in this arena, and in my mind, it is not to be taken lightly. We have an opportunity here to encourage and teach and bless one another in ways that we probably couldn't do if we were actually living side by side and were neighbors. I mean, tell me, except for you living near your family as neighbors, how many of us really do know our neighbors and have daily interaction with them that has any real significance? Unless one has lived in a place for a long time and people are old friends, I doubt most of us really know our neighbors. But HERE, we can be neighbors and friends and share our innermost thoughts and dreams and "magic" with them, and they actually listen and comment on it! I love this! I mean, my own family members don't open up and talk with me this much! So yes, there is "magic" in every blog, and I love how God uses it to bless us each every day in some special way. Write ON!!
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