Add me to the list of people who discovered C. S. Lewis’ writings in college. I also remember listening to an audiotape of Lewis’ radio lectures on the Four Loves, which I think we still have around here somewhere. Lewis, his student Sheldon Vanauken, Francis Schaeffer, and Thomas Merton all helped me find my way out of agnosticism and other misunderstandings, and, along with materials from a phenomenal class that included Roland Bainton’s biography of Martin Luther, Here I Stand, helped me discover myself.
In the time period after college I dabbled in various pursuits of understanding, but the demands of life kept me from doing much of it seriously. I did, however, manage to find a few friends along the way who loved hanging out and discussing ideas about life and faith as much as I did.
Then I had (three spectacular) children, and for several years was overwhelmingly occupied with care for family and home. What little capacity for coherent thought I still had was fully utilized by practicalities. A wonderful Yahoo email group of Christian moms with infants proved a Godsend, however, providing much-needed support and “adult conversation” as well as opportunity to hone written-communication skills.
As my children got older and I began to homeschool, I was obliged to think outside the box of my house again in order to prepare myself as a teacher. I began posting at the online forums for the homeschool curriculum I use, which are wonderful, though nothing really clicked ‘til that fateful day I asked a question in the science forum and a responder referred me to his blog. Blog? What’s that? Well, starting with Rusty Lopez’ New Covenant, I discovered, link by link and blog by blog, a veritable treasure trove of really smart, thoughtful, and interesting people – people discussing all sorts of things related to the living out of Christian faith in a rational way. Eureka!
As the gears in my head oiled up and my mind came back (somewhat), I began leaving comments on the blogs I visited. Eventually I realized I still had a lot to say so I started my own blog. It’s been a great adventure. Blogging definitely has its place as well as its rewards, but it also takes up a lot of time. I asked another blogger whose thinking and integrity I respect and who also knows a ton of people through her blog (that would be Marla :-) ) if she had any recommendations for helping me get a group blog together.
The rest, of course, is history -- not to mention, the future!
