And so we begin

When I was growing up several well-intentioned souls gave me diaries as gifts, encouraging me to record my important thoughts and to review them years down the road. I'd start them out and maybe record three or four entries before deciding that keeping a diary was not for me. I figured if one kept a diary, it was just an invitation for others to read it. But let's face it, no one wants to read a 10-year-old girl's diary, except maybe a 10-year-old boy. I've also shunned diary-keeping in my adulthood because I figure no one would want to read it in the first place - chiefly me, as often I am mortified by my thoughts of the past. And truth be told, my thoughts of late aren't much better.

With that in mind, many might be shocked that I spent about a decade as a professional writer. I really loved news writing. It had absolutely nothing to do with me and only revealed my ignorance when I made a mistake, which by the way was all too often in the beginning. I mean, I'm good and opinionated but I try not to put too many of my thoughts in writing unless I'm certain I've taken enough time to ponder them thoroughly. Later in my career I dabbled in writing columns and found that I really liked expressing my thoughts on certain subjects, mostly when it came to family life and matters of faith. And that makes sense because they're the two most important aspects of life to me.

These days I'm a stay-at-home mom, taking care of a very loving husband and our two kids, both under age 2. Life at home is fairly hectic and most of the time we're not here is spent at our church. So writing hasn't gotten much time from me in the last couple of years, and I have to admit I miss it. Maybe that will be enough of a reason to blog, which if you ask me is simply a digital diary. So let's give it a whirl, shall we?

The blog's title, 500 Witnesses, is a reference to the Apostle Paul's notation that more than 500 people witnessed Jesus Christ in His resurrected form. Writing to the early church just a few decades after Christ's resurrection, Paul was giving believers a vehicle to back up the Gospel message. I mean, more than 500 of their contemporaries had seen with their own eyes a walking, talking Jesus after his death and burial. Some had walked along with Him. Some had shared a meal with Him. And at least one - Thomas - had touched the scars that marred his flesh. But even today followers of Jesus are witnesses too. He has rescued us from the grips of a spiritual death that a life apart from God promises. He has revealed Himself to us through faith. We've seen lives changed. We've felt the peace only He can bring. Yes, I am another witness. And someday I'll see Him in the flesh, feel the embrace of His arms and drink in the sound of His voice. Until then, I'm humbled to live day to day in His grace and I'm learning more about Him as I go along.

So I plan to share my ruminations when I get a few minutes to write. Many posts will regard faith, others politics and still others no doubt will revolve around what I'm learning while living with two little ones. Speaking of the latter, see if you can chart the decline of my intellect and sanity as the months and years roll on - you'll know the source.