Many years ago, I was at the Festival of Faith & Writing at Calvin College where Rob Bell was one of the main speakers. When I mentioned it on my blog, Monica of Paper Bridges left this comment: “Rob Bell! I’d totally be freaked out meeting him….Details, Ann.”Rob Bell wasn’t someone I was dying to see, so I kind of felt bad. I wished that I could bring Monica in for that session or even offer her my seat, but that wasn’t possible. Still, an idea came to me…an idea bordering on the ridiculous…an idea that only a blogger would think up.I walked up to Rob after his session, held out my hand to shake his and said, “Hi, I’m Ann Kroeker. I really enjoyed your talk just now.””Thanks!””And I wanted to ask a favor. A friend of mine couldn’t be here, but really wanted to see you most of all. And so I was just wondering if I could get a picture of you with this and put it on my blog.”He grinned really big, nodded, took the piece of paper I was holding out, and flipped it around so that I could snap this:
I was impressed with Rob and tickled for Monica.So I was prowling through the THC members rss feed and discovered that Monica has a new project at her blog:Curiosity Journal: a weekly recap of what I’ve been reading, playing and learning; what I’m reacting to and writing about it. Curiosity Journal tag words are: reading, playing, learning, reacting (writing).She launched her Curiosity Journal on Wednesday, January 12, and had posts January 19, January 26 and February 2.Inspired by her project and following her lead, I shall offer a Curiosity Journal entry of my own today, because I’m a curious girl.
Curiosity Journal: February 9, 2011
Reading: One Thousand Gifts by Ann VoskampI actually started counting with Ann way back in 2007, but didn’t get very far. After a few entries, I think I made it up to, say, #35. Part of my problem was that I saw it as list-making. A task. I didn’t see the life in it, or the rhythm that I could explore. I felt Ann V’s poetry while she counted, but didn’t think to produce my own. I didn’t realize I could have been recording “our life story in freeze frames of thanks” (Voskamp 82).I stopped counting, and now I’m realizing that I’ve lost a lot of moments. Maybe I’m not so curious after all?But I can begin again. Because, as Ann V. would say, “all’s grace.”Playing: I’ve enjoyed some word-play with THC colleagues at our virtual office. Let me tell you, I work with a bunch of witty people. I can barely keep up. And speaking of THC and playing, a couple of recent THC posts explored gaming, play, work and life: “Let’s Play Work, and Win,” and “Game Over: It’s Time to Live It.”Learning: While creating an organization’s website, I’m learning the widgets and menus of the WordPress Genesis themes. Also, with my kids I’m slowly working through How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
and Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door: A Book of Christian Evidences (Know What You Believe and Why), learning about exegesis, hermeneutics, theology and worldview.Reacting: Instead of reacting in some curious or intellectual manner to current world news stories or trends, I have to admit that this week, I’m simply reacting to several deadlines. I need to turn in work for THC, grade papers for the high school writing class I facilitate, and finalize some messages I am presenting in a few weeks.There you have it. A Curiosity Journal that reveals what I’m reading, playing, learning and reacting to.What’s more, this post is part of Charity Singleton’s TheHighCalling.org (THC) community project, “There & Back Again.”
Go THERE: Monica’s Curiosity Journal: Feb 2, then come back HERE again!Each Thursday, consider going “There and Back Again” yourself. It’s simple.Here are Charity’s steps:
- Choose another High Calling Blogger to visit. It can be someone you have “met” before, or do what I do, and work your way through the “Member Posts” section of thehighcalling.com to meet someone new.
- Visit his blog, digesting the message until it becomes something that you can write about.
- Go back to your blog and write about it, being sure to link to the post that gave you the idea so that your readers can visit, too.
- Add the button to your blog so your readers know you are participating in “There and Back Again.”
- Go back to the Network blog and leave a comment so your new friend can feel the link love!
- Complete the journey by returning here, to Wide Open Spaces, and enter your link so that we all can benefit from the new High Calling connection you have made.
Hi, Ann! Thanks for playing along with my little record keeping experiment. That Rob Bell story makes me laugh (and feel loved) every time.
m
Your project felt perfect for me. I hope I remember to log in and participate on Wednesdays!
There is so much here Ann. I don’t know how you do it all. I love what you did for Monica. Brilliant!
I got much farther on my Gratitude List when I began years ago, but I felt much the same way you did. I am beginning all over again with a whole new “vision.” The book helped me to see the gifts in a deeper, more meaningful way.
Yes, yes…though I’ve followed Ann V. literally for years, seeing the Gratitude Community explode, reading her ongoing poetic entries, I still couldn’t put it all together until SHE put it all together in One Thousand Gifts. It’s deeper and more meaningful for me now, too.
Ann – This was wonderful! I love the curiosity project, love the way you weaved in so many links and stories, even linking up to There and Back Again. I think this is the very best of what a blog post can do.
I’m heading over to Monica’s now, and may even do a curiosity project post myself!
You’ve been my inspiration, Charity! I can imagine doing a Curiosity Project regularly…kind of a weekly report of my explorations and intellectual adventures. Thanks for hosting There & Back Again!
Ann, the curiosity journal idea is cool. Thanks for sharing Monica’s link about it. And also thanks for sharing Charity’s There and Back Again project. Just clicked through a couple of links and read some good stuff!