New Year's Eve. We've been there before. Done that.

After a fun early evening with friends, we're back at Noble World HQ, with the TV and housepants on.

Daughter and wifey are on the couch watching old episodes of Monk on the Roku. I'm on the couch with a Macbook and a mindful of musing. Tomorrow is 2011. It's just another day, yet because of our calendaring system, we treat it as sacred. Interestingly enough, it is a powerful opportunity to practice valuable introspection. Resolutions will come and go over the next 90 days, and this entry may prove personally meaningless as well. Yet, on the last night of 2010, some of brain energy is directed to the past five years of blogging here at journeyguy.com.

Bluntly, my blog is not where I'd hoped it would be. Five years ago when I began blogging, I envisioned my blog creating ongoing conversations and dialogue with a worldwide audience. Narcissistically, I thought Notes from the Trail would become a preferred destination and bookmarked stop for thousands. It hasn't.

With great appreciation to the 150-200 folks a day that stop in (according to Google Analytics), I certainly don't want to discourage your traffic. I've enjoyed the friendships and comments that this blog has generated, but I wonder... Is it a good mental investment? Should I direct my energies elsewhere? Or should I work harder to focus journeyguy.com in order to generate a larger audience?

I love writing. I do. It's cathartic. It's a catalyst. It's community. But my end goal is not necessarily random entries about random life happenings. Problem is... I don't know what my end goal is.

I have dreams about getting a book published. But then I question my motives. Every church planter/pastor that is worth their salt (you detect any sarcasm?) wants or has a book published. Do I really want to toss in a trite contribution to the cesspool of contemporary churchianity? Do I really have anything to say that is real, beneficial and ultimately and truly God-exalting?

And so I ponder on the Eve of 2011.

To blog? To book? I still have hopes that one may lead to another. Consider the story of the Pioneer Woman whose blogging has led beyond books to a movie. It's enough to depress aspiring, consistent writers such as yours truly.

And then there's the counsel of Ecclesiastes 12.12:

"But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out."

I've got a book project or two on the burner. Maybe 2011 will be the year of focused, intentional effort for publication. We'll see. Right now... I think I'll go watch some Monk. It's New Year's Eve, after all.

Jeff Noble - "Notes from the Trail"

New Year's Eve blogging reflections

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