Behind the Scenes: Blog Stats and a Thank-You

I frequently use the hashtag #readersmakeithappen in my tweets relating to my blog. This blog does happen because of you. I took some screenshots of my stats so you can see one of the things that just make my day: knowing you're out there, reading my posts.

 This week...

Of all time, as of 12.9.11

 

 Most viewed posts this week...

Most viewed of all time as of 12.9.11

My traffic sources

And there you are, dear readers!

If I solely wanted to yammer on, "express myself," and demand someone pay devout attention to and understand me, I can hire a therapist for that. This blog is for you--an invitation to reflect on life under this sun with me, if only for a few minutes out of your busy day. To you who accepted that invitation, you have my gratitude.

Binding Tides

I feared the sea’s mercurial pull, stayed

Onshore, when I was small. But now

 I find

With some dismay the ocean is in me.

Moons pull and shove me, but beyond the dark

Blue moods I see a Star for me. So, go,

Rage, waves. See if you can blot out that high,

Eternal north star.

Your consolation

Prize? This. A faulty compass, cast aside.

Miranda by John William Waterhouse

 

A Moment of Thanksliving

Mine is this...my thanks to God for His gift of a humiliation.

An outstanding growth of character came from my Biology and Chemistry classes my first semester sophomore year. I've always been gifted in the area of English, words, and writing. I'm not bragging: I acknowledge it is a treasured gift from my Father. However, prior to the aforementioned semester, I esteemed my gift lightly--I had an unkind attitude towards others who weren't on the same level of understanding English as I was. I never spoke these things, but I would think, "Wow, you're stupid if you can't get this--what is wrong with you?! This is simple." During the course of that semester, I failed basically every Chem. and Bio. lab, quiz, and test--I studied, I got a tutor, and nothing worked.

I've been gifted--however, that's no free pass for me to despise others because they can't do what I can. I pray I never forget those moments of complete confusion and dismay during Chemistry and Biology, because I need them to remind and move me to compassion on those who struggle.

I am thankful for God's gift of humiliation, and I am thankful that He even gave me the ability to learn from it.

Paraphrase of Psalm 136: A Prayer of a Twenty-first Century Woman

Thank You, Yahweh, for being good,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
Thank You, God above all other gods,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
Thank You, my Lord above all other lords,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who alone does great, wondrous things,
 because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who by infinite brilliance made the heavens,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who spread out the earth above the waters,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who made all the great, beautiful lights
(because Your steadfast love endures forever)--
the sun to rule over the day
(because Your steadfast love endures forever)
and the moon and stars to rule over the night
(because Your steadfast love endures forever).

To You who intruded on my despair,
because Your steadfast love endures forever,
and brought me out of the dark wolves' mouths,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
With a strong hand and outstretched arm,
You lifted a broken reed and nourished a dying candle-wick,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who walked these sorrowful ways before me,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who holds and watches over the life of my mother, a wounded sparrow,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
To You who sees my tears and feels my pain as if it were Your own,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
It is You who remembers me in my low estate,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
It is You who stays with one word the wolves lying in wait for me,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.

It is You who provides for my every need and hunger that I should not want,
because Your steadfast love endures forever.
I thank You, Yahweh, the only God of heaven...
because Your steadfast love endures forever.