Puerto Rico

Hey, friends! I’ve just returned from a mission trip with my church to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. It was a wonderful trip, and I thought that instead of doing a full-on blog post this week, I might just tell you a bit about the trip.

After Hurricane Maria ravaged the island two years ago, a member of our church found out that our denomination had a church that was affected by the storm. He reached out to see how they were doing, and that’s how we met Pastor José and the Iglesias Bautista Libre in Buenas Aguas, Puerto Rico.

Their story was tragic. José had grown up in Puerto Rico but was attending theological school on the mainland when he volunteered to go back to the island as a missionary for the denomination. He started the church in Aguas Bueans and over the next few years grew it into a thriving, self-sustaining community. Life was good; then Maria hit.

When the storm was over, José’s home had been destroyed, and the church building was in ruin. Most of his congregation had lost everything, and they left the island to start over stateside. The church basically had to start over, this time without the financial support of our denomination’s missions program.

Over the past couple of years, José has rebuilt the church community from the bottom up. They’ve been meeting in members’ homes and in a tent that they erected on the church grounds. But they haven’t been able to meet in their sanctuary because it didn’t have a roof. So they’ve been making due with what they have.

Last month, a church from South Carolina came and put a new roof on the building, allowing the church to finally resume worship indoors. Though their sanctuary was bare and without a bathroom, they were happy to have a permanent home for their church again.

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That’s where we came in. A group of 38 people from our church flew down to the island and spent the last week working on the building and reaching out to the community alongside the church. We brought a group that ranged from teenagers to senior citizens, construction professionals to people who have no idea how to use a hammer (👋🏼), and everything in between. We spent the week getting to know the church members, hearing their stories, and joining together in helping them continue to get back on their feet.

The construction crew worked all week, transforming their bare sanctuary into a beautiful worship space. They built a stage, a sound booth, a bathroom, and even an office for Pastor José. Thanks to their efforts, the church now has an inviting space to worship and bring visitors, and they couldn’t be more proud of it.

While they were plugging away, the outreach group was canvassing the community promoting a huge carnival we put on Thursday night. We offered inflatables, games, prizes, and free food for everyone who showed up. When the big night came, we weren’t sure what to expect, but the response was overwhelming. Families came out in droves, there were kids everywhere, and the community was so excited to have something like this to bring them all together.

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We engaged in some other outreach, too. A small team went out and painted the house of a church member who had been affected by the storm. Our children’s pastor brought a dozen ukuleles, and a group gave lessons to local children every day. Now, the church has their very own ukulele band! And on Tuesday night, we went into an impoverished neighborhood in Caguas and cooked a meal for the people there, singing praise songs as we handed out each plate.

My favorite part of the week, though, was probably Wednesday night, when our group got together with the church for a worship service. Pastor José shared his heart for his church, the ukulele band performed the songs they’d learned, and our pastor preached a message (translated into Spanish, of course) about having passion for God and for his work. It was a truly holy time as God’s people from both Arkansas and Puerto Rico came together in worship, and I’m so thankful I got to be a part of it.

Once all the work was done, we got to have a little fun, too. We went to a gigantic zip line park on Friday, and everyone had a great time. After a little bit of shopping and sightseeing, we were headed home. Everyone made it back safely in time to get a few hours of sleep before church on Sunday morning, and we all came back with hearts full of joy and love for our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico.

I am so happy that my church decided to step out, try something new, and reach out to our friends in need. There were so many barriers that could have come between us, like distance and language, but when we chose to come together, none of that mattered. We were just brothers and sisters coming together to do God’s work, and I believe that he blessed it.

The church in Puerto Rico had some new faces this past Sunday morning, people from the community who had heard about them through the carnival. And those of us who had gone came back to our own church with a deeper understanding of the reach of God’s love all over the world. Our little trip to Puerto Rico was an incredible experience for everyone involved. I’m so thankful I got to go, and I can’t wait until I get a chance to see the island again.

Dios es bueno. God is good. God bless Puerto Rico. Thanks for reading, friends.

Winter

Our little family has a new addition! A couple of weeks ago, Katherine and I adopted a beautiful dog named Winter. She’s a two-year-old Great Pyrenees mix, and she’s awesome. We couldn’t be more excited to bring her into our home.

A pet has always been part of our plan. Katherine’s more of a dog person, and I have no preference on the dogs-versus-cats debate, so we decided long ago that once we got married, settled into our house, and built a fence in our back yard, we’d start thinking about adopting a dog.

Once the fence went up, thinking quickly became looking. Our search for the perfect pet was on. Katherine kept up with every dog listed on Facebook, and we spent our lunch breaks visiting animals at the local humane society and animal control kennel. Each time, we’d leave thinking, “That one was great, but not the one for us.”

Then we met Winter. Katherine spotted her on a Facebook group for residents of our town, and I immediately recognized the owner as someone I’d gone to high school with. So I reached out and asked if we could get together that weekend. The next morning, we nervously drove to the park to meet this potential pet.

From the moment we met her, Winter was our dog. She was friendly and sweet, but not overly excited or in our faces. She calmly went for a walk with Katherine while I chatted with the owner about her history and health. And when I leaned down to pet her, she sat calmly at my feet. It was a great first meeting.

I was comfortable with Winter from the start, and that’s not something I can say about many animals. I’ve only ever formed a bond with one dog before—my childhood pet Wrinkles, who passed away years ago—and I usually find them to be overwhelming. But with Winter, it was different; we just clicked. And even when she leaned up and licked my face, I didn’t want to throw up. That’s when I knew I wanted to adopt her.

Katherine was surprised when I looked up and said, “Do you want to take her home?” Our plan was to meet Winter and then leave and have a discussion before making any decisions. But even though she was shocked, Katherine knew that it was the right call. So she stammered back, “You mean today?“ to which I responded, “Yes! Do you want to bring her home with us right now?” She agreed, and Winter became part of our family right then and there.

Her transition into our house was relatively smooth. There were a few minor bumps, as you’d expect, but nothing huge. She really has made this place her home, which I am thrilled about. She’s comfortable here, she knows she’s safe, and she seems to be really happy. The fact that we can provide that for her brings a sense of fulfillment I definitely wasn’t expecting.

To be honest, I was very nervous about adopting a dog. This whole process has brought out insecurities in me that I didn’t know I had. I was scared to adopt a pet because I was afraid I wouldn’t bond with them. I’ve never been a big animal person, and I didn’t want that to negatively affect them. I felt inadequate to care for, nurture, and (when necessary) discipline another living thing. I was afraid of failing, and it became very apparent throughout our pet-finding process.

But through talks with Katherine, I came to terms with my fears. I realized I wasn’t doing this alone. She assured me that this was something we were going to take on together and that if I needed time to learn how to be a pet owner, that would be OK. Her encouragement helped me get to a healthy place mentally so that I was ready when we finally met Winter.

And of course, all of my fears were unfounded. Having a pet has been the most natural thing in the world for us, and I’m not sure how I couldn’t see that before. Katherine and I make a great team, working together to ensure that Winter is healthy, happy, and engaged. I love taking her out in the mornings when I get up, and when I see Katherine and Winter cuddled up together before bedtime, my heart feels fuller than it ever has before.

I’m learning a lot, too. Pet ownership really does teach you about unconditional love. I’ve never met anyone whose only goal in life is to be near me, but it seems that all Winter needs to be happy is our presence. Even when I’m not having the best day or when I’m feeling down on myself, she’s always there happy to see me, and that joy is contagious.

Everyone who’s come over to meet Winter has told us the same thing: She’s perfect for you. And that couldn’t be more true. Winter has the exact personality we were looking for in a dog: calm, but loving. She doesn’t have a single aggressive bone in her body. And her favorite pastime is lounging around the house, same as ours! She’s the perfect fit, and I’m so glad we found her.

All those people who warn that, “Having a pet is a lot of work,” aren’t lying, but what they forget to mention is that it’s totally, totally worth it. Between the walking and the feeding and cleaning and the grooming, there’s so much love. Having Winter in our home is so natural that I can’t imagine it being any other way.

I never thought I’d be the type of person to say this, but I love my dog! She’s made my life significantly better just by being in it. She’s already taught me so much and helped me face some things I didn’t even know were there. Having her around has brought me more joy and fulfillment than I ever thought a pet could, and for that I am so thankful.

Thanks for letting me gush about Winter for a whole blog post. If you ever get to meet her, you’ll understand why. She’s awesome, and even the pictures don’t do justice to just how cute she is.

I’d love to hear stories of how your pets have impacted you if you’re willing to share them. I’m still new to this whole pet ownership thing, but I think I’m getting the hang of it, and I’d be happy to talk more about it if you would. Just let me know in the comments or on social. Until next week, friends, stay safe, and give your loved ones–human and pet alike—lots of love!

An Ode to iTunes

One of the biggest rumors going around the tech blogosphere lately is that Apple will finally, after years of neglect, put iTunes out of its misery. And yesterday, the company officially confirmed this to be true. Some are mourning the loss of what was once a great piece of software, while others are rejoicing at its death like the munchkins in The Wizard of Oz. To be honest, it’s a long time coming. But that doesn’t make me any less sad about it.

You’d be forgiven if you had to ask, “What the heck is iTunes, and why are all the nerds riled up about it?” It hasn’t been a part of popular culture for a while. But back in its heyday, iTunes was the place to purchase music online.

When you plugged in your iPod (remember those?) to your computer, iTunes would instantly appear, dutifully ready to help you sync your songs, art, and playlists with ease. Or if you wanted to hear the latest banger, you could head over to the iTunes Store, purchase it for a buck, and start listening within seconds. The whole process was fast, easy, and convenient, and it made music accessible to everyone in a new way.

To say that iTunes changed the music industry would be an understatement. When music started going digital with the advent of MP3 players, people were getting music one of two ways: either they went to the store, bought an entire CD, and ripped it to their computer… or they stole it from any number of pirating websites.

CDs were expensive and annoying. Why pay so much money and go through the trouble of ripping a disc just for a couple of songs you like? Not to mention having to manually enter song names and track down album art to keep everything organized and pretty. Buying physical music was simply more trouble than it was worth.

So a significant number of people were turning to piracy, not because they didn’t want to support artists, but because the physical music system wasn’t compatible with new digital methods of listening. Consumers weren’t happy with the options available, and music makers weren’t happy that their stuff was being passed around illegally. Seeing this dilemma, Apple decided to capitalize on it. And thus, iTunes was born.

Having the ability to buy individual songs—rather than entire albums—and easily string those songs into playlists that could be taken anywhere was revolutionary. In the world of streaming, we‘ve become accustomed to having our music available to us anytime, anywhere. But back in the early days of iTunes, this concept was groundbreaking, and it changed everything.

The music industry was never the same again. The structure of songs and albums shifted drastically. The distance between artists and their fans nearly vanished, making space for a much deeper connection than ever possible before. And thanks to the iPod and iTunes, Apple became a household name at a time when average consumers had no idea what a Mac even was.

That’s an incredible story, and it’s one that gets told a lot in the tech world. But if that was all there was to it, no one would really care that iTunes is going away in 2019. Music streaming has taken over, and people use their phones as their primary computers now. It’s time move on, right?

The problem with that—and the reason so many techies like myself have such strong feelings about this development—is that iTunes has had a profound impact on so many people’s lives. It wasn’t just about selling songs and iPods. To me at least, iTunes was so much more than that.

Everyone who lives in the Apple ecosystem remembers their first Apple product. The thing that drew them in, showed them what the company could offer, and led them to integrate those products more and more into their lives. The thing that showed them that spark of magic and wonder Apple integrates into everything they do. It’s something you never forget.

For me, that first Apple product wasn’t a computer. It wasn’t a phone or even an iPod. My very first Apple product, the thing that got me interested in this company that‘s such a big part of my life now, was none other than iTunes.

I was a kid with no relationship whatsoever with music. The only songs I knew were from church and the country radio station my mom played in her van. I had no taste and, honestly, no interest in music. But then I somehow got my hands on an iTunes gift card (one of the most popular gifts to give to kids at that time), and all of that changed.

Suddenly, I could look up any song I wanted, and if I liked it, it could instantly be mine. I was amazed! I started looking up the few songs I knew from MySpace and clicking the related links underneath to find more like them. I fell in love with music. Over time, I carefully curated a library of my favorite music, and I listened to it all the time, right there at the desk in my family’s kitchen.

Music became my identity as a teenager. I prided myself on keeping up with unknown artists and telling other people about them. I burned countless CDs and gave them to my friends as gifts. (I actually burned so many CDs that iTunes issued me a piracy warning.) When life got hard or confusing or even just exciting, I always had a playlist handy to help me work through whatever I was feeling. It’s no exaggeration to say that my music library was my most prized possession at the time.

More Apple products followed. One year, I got an iPod Shuffle for Christmas. The next year, it was the first-generation iPod Touch. Then came the iPhone 3G. For my high school graduation, I asked my parents for a MacBook Pro. After that came a string of so many iPads. Now, I’m known as an Apple fanboy by my friends and family. And it all started with a little program called iTunes.

My relationship with music changed as I got older, as these things do. I found other passions. Every once in a while, something will come along that re-sparks my interest in music. A few years ago, it was Apple Music. More recently, I invested in a couple of HomePods and started listening more. But no matter where my relationship with music goes now, it will always be tied in my mind to those hours I spent as a bright-eyed kid browsing iTunes and forging my music identity.

Like many, though, I have had my heart broken by changes made to iTunes. I’ve watched the app morph over the years into something nearly unrecognizable. The iTunes Store eventually added movies, TV shows, and podcasts all within the same program. When the iPhone came out, it became the place to sync over not only your music, but also your apps, photos, contacts, documents, and everything else you might want on your phone. Apple decided a few years ago to get into the streaming music game, so it tacked Apple Music onto iTunes in a way so crude that it’s nearly unusable.

No, iTunes is not what it once was. It’s become cluttered to a point that many who used to be its biggest fans now hate what it has become. There have been cries within the tech community for iTunes to be broken up ever since Apple took a more segmented approach on iOS, releasing separate apps for music, podcasts, movies/TV shows, and app downloads. The iTunes behemoth just doesn’t make sense anymore. The tech world mostly agrees that it has to go so that it can be replaced by a series of smaller, more focused apps, which is exactly what Apple is planning to do.

But it will be missed. Despite its flaws, iTunes was incredible when it came to discovering, curating, and listening to music. Back before streaming took over, music libraries mattered, and no other app held a candle to iTunes when it came to managing huge collections. And for that, iTunes deserves to be remembered fondly.

I admit that I was sad yesterday when I heard the news that Apple will be officially sunsetting iTunes in this year’s big Mac update. I’m sure that the new Music app will be great and serve us very well for years to come, but I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the original.

iTunes changed the music industry, and in that way, it changed the world. But more than that, it had a huge impact on me during a vulnerable, formative time of my life. For that, I’ll be forever grateful.

So here’s to you, iTunes. You served us well. Now may you rest in peace with the CDs you replaced all those years ago.

Privilege

I have lived a relatively comfortable life. Growing up, my parents provided a great deal of stability for me. I never had to wonder where my next meal was going to come from. I didn’t have to work because I wasn’t responsible for much other than my schoolwork and staying out of trouble. When I graduated high school, I went to college without paying a dime out of my own pocket, and then I did the same with graduate school. My education and work opportunities prepared me to transition smoothly into the work force where I am currently earning a decent living that allows me to own a home and build equity in it while also investing money for retirement.

In short, I am privileged. And I think it’s time to be completely honest about it.

This is a topic that I’ve been pondering for a very long time. It might have been more appropriate to call this article “Privilege (Part One)” because I’m positive that this isn’t the last I’ll have to say on it. The truth is that I feel completely inadequate to speak into an issue so important and nuanced, but the more I reflect on this subject, the more I feel compelled to speak out on it.

As I’ve said before, it is so incredibly easy for each of us to assume that our lives are the norm, that everyone else experiences the world the same way that we do. I once thought that myself. But that simply isn’t true, and the first step to understanding the concept of privilege is recognizing the ways that one’s experience differs from those of others.

The older I get, the more I realize how fortunate I am to have grown up in the circumstances I did. Because at every turn, I was experiencing privilege. I was given the circumstances, resources, and opportunities to grow, thrive, and become all that I could be. Meanwhile, many around me were not being afforded those same privileges, and I couldn’t even see it.

Below is a list of just some of the privileges I’ve enjoyed in my young life:

• My family didn’t move a lot growing up, which means my education and social life were mostly uninterrupted throughout my childhood.

• I always had access to plentiful, healthy food, which allowed my physical and mental development to proceed to the fullest extent. It also meant that I could focus in school and earn good grades.

• My neighborhood growing up was safe, which meant that I could play outside and maintain an active lifestyle.

• I didn’t have to work in high school, so I had plenty of time to study, complete homework, and develop meaningful, lifelong friendships.

• My parents encouraged me in my studies, even helping me when I struggled. My whole life, they told me that I could achieve anything I set my mind to, including getting into college. And I believed them.

• I have a knack for learning and test-taking. This is in no way an indication of merit or hard work on my part. I’m just good at it.

• My school offered extra-curricular activities, which allowed me to explore my talents and build life skills. They looked great on college applications, too.

• I had a plethora of adults in my life—teachers, church members, and family friends—who mentored me, encouraged me, and gave me opportunities to learn and grow.

• Money was rarely (though not never) an issue in my family. My parents taught me to treat money like a tool and showed me through their examples how to use it and relate to it well. Budgeting, saving, debt avoidance, and generosity were principles instilled in me from a young age. 

That may seem like an unnecessarily long list, but I assure you that I could go on. You may be reading this list and thinking, “What’s the big deal? I had all of that growing up, too. Everyone does.” If so, I’ll tell you this: You are, like me, extremely privileged. Be thankful.

Because though these may seem like basic things that every person should have access to, the truth is that many, many do not. And these privileges—which only certain people are given—set us up for success later in life.

Am I saying that people who don’t have these privileges can’t be successful? Of course not. Am I saying that anyone who grows up privileged is definitely going to get ahead? No, I’m not. What I am saying is that the privileges I’ve been afforded have made it much easier for me to succeed in life than someone who doesn’t have those same privileges.

It’s like if life were a race, I was given a head start, or better equipment to run with. And it’s not like I deserved it or even asked for it; I just got it. And my whole life, I’ve been relying on that extra boost to help get me where I want to go.

I can’t imagine being where I am without those privileges. Would I have gotten into college if I hadn’t been told my whole life that it was a possibility for me? Or if I had to work to support my family instead of focusing on school? What about if had a disability I was trying to overcome on top of everything else? Sure, there are people who do a lot more with a lot less, but I’m not sure that I’m strong enough to be one of them. For whatever reason, I never had to find out.

By the way, I haven’t even mentioned two other major aspects of privilege that I enjoy: I am a white man. Both my race and my biological sex afford me privileges that I would not otherwise have access to. Though we try to convince ourselves that we as a society no longer judge people by their race or sex, one simple flip through the newspaper or newsfeed proves differently. Our world is still set up to favor white men, and though I wish it weren’t that way, I do still benefit from it.

Coming from a sheltered upbringing, I never realized how unique my experience was until I became an adult and saw the world for myself. I met people of different socioeconomic backgrounds, from different races and ethnic groups, and even from different countries. And the more people I met who were different from myself, the more I understood the depth of privilege I have received.

I’ve met people who have no idea where their next meal is coming from. People who’ve been beaten down until they believe that they are nothing. People who face oppression and bigotry on a daily basis. And people who repeat the broken cycles of family mistakes because they don’t have any way of knowing life can be different for them.

And in meeting these people—many of whom I love dearly—I’ve come to see myself in a new light. There’s absolutely no difference at a fundamental level between myself and them. I’m no better than them, no more deserving than they are. There’s no reason that I should have received the privileges I did while they were forced to face life without them. The only difference between them and me is that by chance, I started off in a different place than they did.

I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t set up the systems that created it. It’s not my fault that things are this way. But I benefit from it every single day, sometimes in ways that actively harm others. Often in ways that go against my basic beliefs and principles. That is my privilege.

We’ve all heard it said that ignorance is bliss. And in the case of privilege, that is certainly true. Whereas before, I was able to live my life believing the world was fair and that everyone else had the same chance at success that I had, now I know the truth. Everything I have is in some way connected to the privileges that were afforded to me earlier in life. Even now, the same privileges are still working in my favor while others suffer without them. This is a hard truth to live with.

Unchecked and unconsidered, privilege is a blessing. But once you recognize it for what it is and look it straight in the face, privilege is ugly. It’s a beast that takes from those who don’t have enough and gives to those who already have more than they could ever need. It silences the oppressed and convinces those who benefit from it that they deserve it. That they’re somehow better than others. That their privilege is their right. And that simply is not true.

No privilege is a right unless it’s guaranteed to everyone. And the sad truth is that there are many people in our world who have little more than nothing. Don’t they deserve the same things everyone else does? Aren’t they just as human as everyone else? What right do we have to feel entitled to things that others can only wish for?

I’ve come to see my privilege as a burden, and I bear it every day. It’s nothing compared to the burdens borne by those who are struggling to survive, but it weighs on me nonetheless. It reminds me constantly of the suffering in the world and forces me to question the comfortable complacency that I so easily fall into. My privilege is a moral quandary that I am constantly turning over in my head and trying fruitlessly to solve.

What am I to do with this privilege? I can hardly give it up, at least not all of it, because I can’t change who I am or where I come from. Nor should I. I’m thankful for the privileges I’ve been given. The problem isn’t necessarily that I’ve been given too much. The problem is that others haven’t been given enough. So while I can’t undo the privilege I’ve been given, I can do my best to use it to lift others up.

I dream of a day when everyone is afforded the privileges I have. There’s more than enough to go around. It’s just going to take more people waking up to their privilege and choosing to use it for the sake of others. If I can take what I’ve been given and use it to make life better for my fellow human beings, then I consider that a worthwhile use of what I’ve been blessed with. I don’t want to waste it.

What does that look like? For me, it’s taken different forms. It’s meant being there for children in my life who don’t always have the positive adult influences they need. It’s meant being patient with people who need time to learn things I was fortunate enough to be taught long ago. It’s meant working with those in need on becoming independent. It’s meant loaning without expecting a payback and giving with as much generosity as I can afford. It’s meant giving people rides, giving people second chances, and simply hearing people out.

Checking my privilege has meant all of that and more, and I do it not because I’m particularly good or because I want to be praised. I do it because I’ve been given a lot, so I believe that I’m expected to give a lot to others.

Jesus taught as much. He said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected” (Luke 12.48). For me, that expectation includes constantly checking my privilege and making sure that I’m using it to help those who don’t have it. It’s a process that will take me my entire life to master, but I’m trying, and I’m always open to listening to those who can teach me ways of doing it better.

How about you? Do you have privilege that you haven’t recognized yet? Now is the time to do so. No matter where we come from, most of us have been given some kind of privilege that others have not. Once we choose to see it, then we can start the process of learning how to use it to help others who haven’t been so fortunate. I believe that’s the only way we’ll see this world become a better place for everyone.

In my faith tradition, we say that God is in the business of redeeming the world. What that means is that God isn’t going to undo the brokenness of the world. Instead, he’s going to heal it, and he’s working through us to make it happen. I think that this is a part of it.

We can’t undo the injustices and disparities in the world today, but we can pick up the broken pieces and use our influence to turn them into something beautiful for everyone. When we do that, we’re taking part in God’s redeeming work. And I can’t think of any better use for the privileges I’ve been given.

I was given an unfair advantage in life. I’m not proud of it, but it’s true. It’s taken me a long time to recognize it, but now that I have, I’m trying to use that privilege to help others, because I believe I can use it to make the world at least a little bit better. And I believe that you can do the same. We each have the opportunity to use our privilege for the greater good if we only choose to. Will you?

Analytics

Not too long ago, Squarespace finally released an iPad-compatible version of their website-building app. Needless to say, I was excited. I try do as much as I can on my iPad, and not being able to do all of my web work on my favorite device irritated me to no end.

The @squarespace app is finally on iPad, and I could not be happier! Literally the last thing keeping me from using my iPad Pro for all personal projects. Thanks, Squarespace team!

— Devon Michael Dundee (@devondundee) April 29, 2019

When I opened the app for the first time, I felt like a kid unwrapping a present. I beamed as I navigated through different sections of the app, browsing editable versions of my webpages, adjusting settings, and previewing the site on different screen sizes. It was thrilling! The thing I had been requesting for so long was finally here, and it was everything I wanted it to be.

Actually, it was a little more than I wanted it to be. In addition to Squarespace’s editing tools, the app also includes a brief overview of the website’s analytics data. One of the first things you see when you open the app is a trio of charts that show how your site has been performing lately. This feature of the app was unexpected, and to be honest, it threw me off a bit.

I’ve always maintained a healthy distance from analytics of any sort when it comes to my creative projects, especially this website. This is my place of expression, a way for me to share my life with others. And it’s always been my fear that if I started down the analytics rabbit hole, I wouldn’t ever reemerge. Instead of focusing on creating the best content possible, I’d become distracted by getting the most page views possible. I don’t ever want to sully this space with that sort of pressure.

So when I saw the charts, my initial response was to look away. But it was too late; I had already seen too much. My curiosity was piqued, so I went back to the analytics page and dug in a little bit. And what I found intrigued me.

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the numbers seemed pretty good to me. It’s an honor that anyone would take the time to read what I have to say, much less several people every week. I would much rather gauge this blog’s success on the value it adds to lives of those of you reading, but if sheer numbers are any indication, things look to be going well. Thank you so much for being part of that.

The interesting part, though, was the section that highlighted my most popular content. The home page had the most views, as expected, with the blog and about pages coming in right after it. But the most visited blog post by far was this one from 2017 entitled Questions We Ask After a Tragedy. Not only is it my most popular article of all time; it’s the most popular one on my site month after month, performing better even than new pieces that I post each week.

Finding this out was baffling to me. I had no idea that people were still reading an article I wrote nearly two years ago and shared a couple of times on social media. To be honest, I’ve always been extremely proud of that piece and the entire series that it’s a part of. I consider it some of the best—and most difficult—stuff I’ve ever written. But I never imagined that it would still be having an impact today.

Why would people still be reading that particular piece now? Did it just happen to get caught up in some search engine somewhere? Maybe. Did a bot latch onto it for reasons unknown to any of us? It’s definitely possible. But I like to think that the article is somehow being found by people seeking comfort in the midst of tragedy, and I hope they’re finding it there. If it’s still accomplishing that even for a few, then I consider it one of my greatest successes.

Looking at the analytics, I briefly had the thought, “This article seems to be working! I should write more like it.” But such ideas are futile. Articles like that one can only be written organically and under the right conditions. It has to come from the heart. If I tried to force out a deep theological musing on the state of the world every week, it would come across as insincere, and I’d probably end up repeating myself. That’s not what this is about.

I’m here to share my life, experiences, and thoughts with you in the hopes that you might find value in them. If a particular article strikes a chord with people, that means I’m doing a good job. If some of them don’t, that’s OK, too. Maybe the less popular articles are just for me. Self-expression can be a reward in and of itself.

I always feared that checking the numbers would change my approach to writing, but it actually did just the opposite: It reinforced my commitment to doing this the right way. I love making this site, and I’m so thankful for each and everyone one of you reading it.

Analytics can be helpful, but only up to a point. I might check them from time to time just to make sure I’m not screaming into the void or completely missing out on what’s important to those around me, but I won’t let the numbers rule my process. As long as someone out there is reading these articles and getting something out of them, I’m happy. Thank you for taking a chance on being that someone this week. I hope it was worth it.