“I thank my God every time I remember you,

constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you.”

–Philippians 1:3-4

This post marks the completion of my blog’s first year.  I began Ordinary Grace in January and at least once each week since have offered a true story that spoke to me, reflection on Scripture that seems relevant to that event, and a prayer.  In launching this endeavor, I had no idea what would come from the experience. I didn’t know if anyone would read it or if I would run out of things to talk about either. Now that we are finishing 12 months in this shared journey, I want to reflect on some of what has unfolded.

In the most basic sense I have found that this blog is a good creative outlet for me. After having written (and delivered) sermons for over three decades, I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed the process. Of course, a post is different from a sermon yet it shares enough traits in the creation and feedback  that I have found it to be a familiar discipline. Yet more than just keeping my mind busy and finding a new outlet for my spiritual musings, I have been blessed by the community it has created.

As of today, there are 230 people who subscribe to the blog and get instant notification of a new post. Among that number are individuals from each of the three congregations I served, members of my extended family, both of my college roommates, two women in their 90s who have known me since 4th grade, and many others I do not know.  What fun!

It has been a joy to read your comments, too. The post describing an ill-fated Sunday morning years ago when I decided to have the congregation sing ‘Rock of Ages” (April 14) generated the most feedback. The one about an unrequested assist from a group of bikers in Milwaukee (July 28) was a close second. And there was the post two months ago (October 27) that generated a comment from a congregant in my last pastorate, a reply from a member of my second parish followed by another word from the first respondent. What a blessing to see people who have never met engage in conversation with each other! Of course, there are others who read a post without subscribing or leaving a comment. I’m grateful for all of you as well. 

AWStats, a tool on my hosting site, suggests the audience is much broader than I could have predicted. If I’m interpreting the data correctly (and I have not confirmed this view with my IT Security nephew) there have been more than 25,000 encounters with the blog representing 11,000 different visitors. There have also been 16 bots or web spiders opening one of my posts as well so it seems likely that not all of my ”readers” are human.

That same web tool reports that there have been visitors from six continents (still waiting on Antarctica) representing at least 25 countries.  The largest number of readers is from the United States, of course, but the next five are from the Russian Federation, Japan, China, India, and Great Britain. 

Readers span the U.S. as well. While I don’t know who is associated with any IP address, another online tool allows me to see the zip code of every visitor. The largest number coming from the Philadelphia area and there are readers from each of the other states in which I have lived for at least a year–North Carolina and Georgia, Virginia and Kentucky. People from Dallas and Boise, New York City and Phoenix, San Francisco and Chicago have logged in, as have individuals from Lake Providence, Louisiana, Quincy, Washington and Kihei, Hawaii. I am humbled by the blog’s reach.

All of this pondering about discovery led me to recall the words from Paul shown above. It’s believed that the Letter to the Philippians was written while that first century apostle was in prison. Despite that setting, the epistle speaks of the joy that arises in him from the memory of time with those believers. “I thank my God every time I remember you,” Paul said at one point, “constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you.” His words describe my feelings well as I complete Year 1 of Ordinary Grace, too, and reflect on your essential part in it.

Thank you for being part of this virtual journey with me. If you think the blog would be of benefit to someone else, point them to it. If you want to share a particular post with your study group or friends, feel free. Most of all, I hope you will continue to read this blog from time-to-time and keep passing on your comments and stories. I read every one and am inspired by your insights, questions, and faith.  

As I begin Year 2 of Ordinary Grace my goal remains the same. Namely, that the blog will cause you (and me) to pay closer attention to everyday events and recognize more of those moments when God is at work in the ordinary, unspectacular events of life. And in the aftermath of such a discovery to stop and give thanks once more for our creative and ever-present Maker. 

Divine Companion, thank you for your presence and work in my life. Help me to grow in recognizing such occasions in the year ahead, as they make clear that I never, ever travel alone. Amen.