At the Beginning of a New Year, a Word of Thanks

I have a few thousand readers who regularly peruse my blog. Many have it sent to their inbox. I am grateful for all of you.

I am thankful for those from my past life who read this column regularly and occasionally reach out via email or text to thank me for a post. You have no idea how much it warms my heart when you write. My life is lived with discontinuity between what was and what is, so whenever there is some small gesture that comes over the continental divide of my life to thank me for a post, it boosts my spirit far more than you know.

I know some of what I write is painful to those who remain in evangelicalism, and that you disagree about more than a little of what I write. I appreciate your graciousness in taking the posts at face value and that you do not take them personally. Many of you have remained within our denomination and I completely understand. I would have remained if I had been allowed. Sadly, both my transition and my theology no longer allow it.

I also have a lot of transgender people who follow me, both those who have transitioned and those who have not. I am not particularly active within the trans community. I rarely speak on transgender issues. Most of my public speaking is on the subject of my first TED Talk – gender equity. Even with my lack of involvement in the trans community, I am touched that you take the time to follow my journey and let me know the parts that resonate with your own.

Some of my trans readers reach  out to have a conversation. Sadly I receive far too many requests to be able to schedule those conversations. I am so sorry that is the case. Thank you for sticking with me and reading my memoir. I am appreciative.

A lot of my readers are folks who have stumbled upon one of my TED Talks and have signed up after searching my name. I heard from one of you this morning. I hear from folks pretty much every week, and I always try to answer your emails as quickly as possible. Taking the time to write me is a precious thing, and not something I ever take for granted.

I’m pretty sure my kids rarely if ever read my blog, unless I specifically ask them to read one. My girlfriend doesn’t either, or my therapist. Cathy, my former wife, usually reads them and I take comfort in that. Same with my best friend, who reads every week, and three of my five former copastors, who let me know when they like a post.

Some read every week. One person writes me an email after almost every post. She has been such a loyal follower. Others wait and read eight or ten in a single sitting. Some friends pick up the phone and call me after a particular post, wanting to talk further. I cherish those calls.

For all of you, I am grateful for your faithfulness and for the respect you show just by reading my words.

A lot of what I write is stream of consciousness, whatever I happen to be working through on the particular day I start writing. Sometimes I have no idea what I am going to write until I type the first sentence. The subject unfolds as I type. I love those days. Sometimes the ideas come so fast my fingers can’t move quickly enough to record the cascade of thoughts. Occasionally I stare at a blank screen and type a sentence or two before waiting for another day.

I will keep writing as long as you keep reading. As this, my twelfth year as Paula unfolds, and I approach the completion of 600 columns (columns – language from bygone days with the Christian Standard) I pray that my thoughts may lessen the suffering in the world just a bit, that my words may bring a little insight into people’s minds, and that my heart comes through to show my respect for each and every one of you who treat one another with dignity. I am grateful for your particular journey on this green earth.

And so it goes.