The month of May marked the one-year anniversary of this blog. Last spring, I remember asking one of my coworkers what a blog was and how to create one. I had no clue. I’m not even sure how I discovered blogs existed—I never read them. But suddenly I felt irresistably compelled to start one. It seemed improbable that mine would be noticed amid the vast sea of blogs. But, from the first post, people seemed to read it.
This blog has given me more than one sleepless night, particularly in the early months. It is unnerving to be so transparent about personal life and feelings, as well as engage on controversial topics like sexuality. Yet, I very deliberately made the choice not to be an anonymous blogger, despite possible negative consequences. From the beginning, I wanted to put a real face to the issues, and by doing so, hopefully, have a greater positive impact. Overall, I have found the blogging experience meaningful and worthwhile. Among the highlights of my first year of blogging:
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It introduced me to a wide network of people. Through the blogosphere I heard about the Ex-Gay Survivor Conference and the invitation Christine Bakke and Peterson Toscano extended to Exodus affiliates to dialogue over dinner. I took them up on their offer and wrote about it here.
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Several people have sent me e-mails to say they were encouraged or touched by a blog post, or to simply dialogue or disagree with me. I have heard from those who struggle with same-gender attraction and those who do not. I have heard from a worried mother who just discovered her daughter is gay. Plus, two well-known psychologists, one on each side of the issue, took the time to send me a personal comment about something I had written.
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The Advocate, a leading LGBT magazine, quoted one of my blog articles in their June 2008 issue. I spoke with reporter, Tim Murphy, for about 45 minutes. Though, he didn’t end up using our interview. Overall, the article is surprisingly balanced despite The Advocate’s gay activist slant. In addition to The Advocate, Ex-Gay Watch and Truth Wins Out also referred to my blog. And, Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed provided a link to my article on chastity, The “C” Word in his Weekly Meanderings.
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After someone circulated one of my posts on a listserv, a theologian in the U.K. contacted me. We are now collaborating to establish an interdisciplinary scholars’ group on sexuality and gender.
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On a more personal note, one of my best buddies from high school googled my name, found my blog and contacted me. We are having fun reconnecting.
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I have “met” many cool bloggers out there and had many great conversations on their blogs as well as mine.
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I have become more tech savvy! I learned how to create and maintain a blog, as well as how to create and post a podcast. I also learned how to make a video on my camera, edit it and post it to YouTube.
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My blog has given me a voice. And there is something wonderful about being able to speak and actually be heard. I’m grateful for everyone out there who takes the time to read what I have to say. I am so blessed by that.
It’s amazing what can happen in one year of blogging! Now as I embark on a new year, I sense the need for a shift. I have made minor changes. For example, adding the “Sexuality Library” and “The Book” links above (these are both under construction). Both of these reflect my desire for greater focus on issues of sexuality and biblical studies. Initially, I wanted to keep the blog more generic. I felt uncomfortable writing primarily about homosexuality. Yet, that is the topic I return to time and again. As much as I would rather focus on less controversial and less personally vulnerable issues, I believe God has a purpose in me writing about sexuality.
With this new shift in mind, I deleted several unrelated posts (e.g. my trip to Yosemite, my grandmother’s memorial, etc). My hope is that in the coming year the blog will gain greater focus and intentionality as I write more exclusively on sexuality, spiritual formation, and biblical studies. I guess you could say my blog is “maturing.” That maturing reflects my own process over the last year as God has called me into greater levels of leadership. That is a responsibility I plan to take even more seriously this next year. Will that be reflected in my blog? I hope so—with God’s help.
PS: Can you guess the top five posts of last year?
- Ex-Gay Survivor Conference
- How Far Will We Go?
- The “C” Word
- Recovering From Fundamentalism
- Male and Female: Does it Matter?
8 Comments
July 14, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Karen,
When I first read the title of your latest blog I was afraid you were no longer going to continue your blog!?! So I was thrilled to read toward the end of it that not only are you going to continue but that you plan to narrow it specifically to sexuality!! I’m really glad to hear that as I think it’s important to have a space such as this to read about this issue, find resources, and to respond accordingly.
As a ‘born again’ bible believing christian I still find that being open about my SSA within the church is still a long ways off. At my last church I met individually with some of the pasoral staff. One woman who was in charge of outreach, could not have handled it any worse, but fortunately another woman on staff, head of women’s ministry, was awesome! My intent to meet with them was my heart’s desire to help the church understand and know that there are most likely more than a few people within their church who struggle with this issue. I have since moved on from this church but not for the reason I mention in this post. Fortunately I live in a city which has a great ministry for people who experience SSA but are conflicted because of their spiritual beliefs about homosexuality. This particular ministry does not endorse or emphasize trying to change one’s orientation but they meet you right where you are and their emphasis is on God’s grace and truth. I ended up returning to this ministry because I realized that we have a long way to go before the church is ready to truly deal with their members who experience homosexual feelings. But I am hopeful and expectant that the church will some day get there and I would really like to be part of the solution rather than the problem. So Karen keep up the great work as I truly believe it’s people like yourself and blogs such as this that will someday help to educate the church about SSA and ways they can reach out to those with compassion without compromising biblical truth. I will continue to pray for you and what God has placed on your heart because I know from reading some of the other blogs out there such as the ‘ex-gay watch’ that at times you have taken a beating by taking the stand that you do. But I think you do an amazing job of presenting and defending your arguements and I only hope someday I can be as articulate and well spoken as yourself. May God continue to bless you and give you more and more knowledge and insight as you continue on this journey!!!
July 15, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Hey Karen,
Happy Anniversary!
I too am excited to hear of your narrowed sexuality focus. I once heard Marva Dawn give a talk where she related some advice a friend had given her when she was torn between two job opportunities. The friend said: choose the one that only you can do. That seems applicable here. Spiritual formation stuff is cool and all…but it’s the sort of thing that a zillion other people could do. Writing about sexuality, in a humble, thoughtful, faithful, vulnerable, REAL way–that’s something else. We both know there ain’t a lot of that out there.
peace,
DM
July 18, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Congratulations on your first year of blogging. I check in often and enjoy reading your posts. I think this is a fantastic voice for you!
July 24, 2008 at 8:47 am
Thanks for your encouragement guys!
July 24, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Let me add my two cents worth of congratulations on a year of blogging. I’m also glad to hear of the sharpened focus.
Here’s to keeping it real
blessings
July 25, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I’m glad you found your voice. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog. So much of what you’ve written is just so uplifting. Keep it going. God bless.
August 7, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Karen, I really trust that you are doing what God asks you to do, and I’d never stand in your way. Goodness knows there are far too few people who are able or willing to relate to the Christian who finds herself attracted to people of the same sex, and maybe you need to have a narrower focus in order to even things up a bit. I honestly don’t know if it’s just that I haven’t personally struggled with these issues, but I for one felt a little disappointed when I read of the change. I’m so glad you are not going to stop blogging, but I love your focus on Jesus, the “precious pearl worth losing all for”. Regardless, I’ll still be reading, and I pray that God will be lifted up in this new direction, too. I have learned beautiful things from you.
August 10, 2008 at 4:31 pm
jennypo–thanks so much for your kind words. Even though there will be a shift, I still hope there will be a focus on Jesus, and aspects that are still relevant. The struggle with SSA is very much about the spiritual journey of loving God with one’s whole heart, soul and mind. And I hope to emphasize that as well.