One Year on Substack!

Let's Celebrate!

Note: I’m going to write about Substack for a moment, but then I’m going to offer a celebratory giveaway and tell you how to join in! - JED

A little over a year ago my daughter told me about a platform called Substack. I checked it out, but really I was pretty committed to a WordPress blog on my own domain. I had been blogging there for many years. It played an important role in our recovery from Hurricane Katrina, and I felt a strong affinity for what it meant to me. But it was also a bit of a headache and I was ready for something simpler. So I gave Substack a try, and I loved the simplicity of it. Along came Notes (social media connected to Substack) and the community was so kind and supportive, I was drawn right into it.

I found all kinds of people using Substack - famous personalities (Hello

Garrison Keillor

) and journalists (Hey there Chris!

So What?

), photographers (howdy

Andy Adams

), people of faith (shout out to

Richard Myerscough

and

Jim Martin

) and fantastic writers - fiction - poetry - book reviews and regular everyday people - all mixing it up on this thing called Substack. You feel like friendships have developed when you interact with people like

Scoot

and

Adsum Try Ravenhill

and

S.E. Reid

and so many others. (I probably shouldn’t have started naming names…there are so many others.)

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” ― G.K. Chesterton

So I canceled my old blog address, deleted my X (Twitter) account (a great relief), became less active on Instagram and never found much footing on Threads. I regard Facebook as all but essential for ministry work / staying in touch. But every day Substack brings substance and information and laughs and encouragement. So whether I mentioned your name or not, thank you! I’m grateful.

At this moment I have 308 subscribers (thank you!) and have published 130 posts. I know that doesn’t mean 308 READERS (that’s just the smart ones.) If you do read, you know this isn’t a regimented Substack. I do not post certain things on certain days. Sometimes it’s a Bible study, sometimes some photographs, sometimes just checking in with whatever’s on my mind. I don’t ruminate on how to grow the list - it will either happen or not. But as most people who write anything will say, I write for me and it’s nice when others join in.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS!

How to celebrate a great year on Substack? I think it would be enjoyable to give some gifts to those who take the time to read and participate here. I wish I could send out something to everyone, but here’s how it’s going to go. I’m going to choose the recipients from those who leave a comment on THIS POST. You’ll have to trust me that I’m going to choose the names in a completely impartial way. There will be a First, Second, and Third place prize (descending in value, but not in meaning!).

This won’t be any fun if we do not have a lot of comments! For a comment, you can leave any response to this post. Since we are coming into November, a season of Thanksgiving, why not share something for which you are thankful. But every comment will enter someone into the potential winnings!

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” - A. A. Milne

This will be fun if we have a lot of participation. Deadline for the giveaway is MIDNIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT - so for people like me who stay behind on posts, this will give time to read and comment. And you only have to comment once … multiple comments do not increase your chances of winning.

Thanks again for making my time on Substack a great experience! I look forward to reading your comments!

So, why are you thankful?