Two Candles on the Blog ~ BitterSweetLife

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Two Candles on the Blog



For the second time in my life, I’ve reached that part of the year generally recognized as the anniversary of BitterSweetLife. I think.

In 2005, I admitted sheepishly that, due to some random “playing with” Blogger’s time/date function, the precise moment of my first post here has been lost. But sentimentality triumphs over exactitude with these things.

The central idea is that BitterSweetLife has beat the odds and survived, maintaining something like self-respect, to reach a two-year birthday. Technorati released some “state of the blogosphere” stats several weeks ago that revealed the type of attrition that new bloggers are prone to. Consider:

  • The blogosphere doubles in size every six months.
  • It’s now 60 times bigger than it was three years ago.
  • A new blog is launched every second of every day.
  • 19.4 million bloggers (55%) are still posting 3 months after their blogs are created.

The final stat is revealing for what it doesn’t say: If half of all new bloggers die after three months, how many survive six months? Or a year? We can only guess.

Therefore, it’s with considerable satisfaction that BitterSweetLife emerges as a two-year-old. Technorati doesn’t provide the stats, but we like to think that we are at least one in a million.

The last couple years have seen this blog evolve from a photoblog to a provider of brief spiritual vignettes and on to its current status: a site exploring the bittersweet spiritual journey toward Christ, with unabashed tendencies toward hoops, books, coffee, trash talk, and Blogger hacks. The goal, which incorporates Jayhawk basketball posts, "Master" book reviews, and all things "bittersweet," is incisive language and realistic takes that reflect an authentic knowing of Jesus.

The look or style here may change, but that last phrase is set in stone. BitterSweetLife is ready to rock and write and roll because Jesus is ahead. The journey is on and we're not dropping out. Grrr.



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7 comments:

Andrew Simone said...

Man, I am all riled up now.

Grr, indeed.

Rodney Olsen said...

Congratulations on two years of wonderful, interesting posts. I look forward to the next two years.

John B. said...

A very happy anniversary to Bittersweet Life. Long may you blog.

Unknown said...

Congratulations indeed! Carry on as you have been doing and I'm certain you'll land an actual book deal in the future :) Here's to more readable, laughable and wonderful BitterSweet posts!

Anonymous said...

Congrats. Here's to many more.

Cheers.

Andy said...

Love your line "BitterSweetLife is ready to rock and write and roll because Jesus is ahead." This is one HUGE ministry, brother - may God continue to give you the insight and wisdom to continue.

Congrats!

Anonymous said...

You've come a long way, baby! Really... I've seen much growth in you as this blog has grown. May you continue to explore the truth with tenacity and creativity in this "new year" of blogging.

I'm proud of you,

your wife

 

Culture. Photos. Life's nagging questions. - BitterSweetLife