**NOTE** Not only is today National Star Wars day – May the Fourth be with you – it is also the one year anniversary of mickholt.com. I have learned a lot over the last year but still struggle with some questions – as you’ll read below. Thank you, to everyone that reads PADAG regularly, has read in the past or will be reading this for the first time – I hope you find something of value here and if so, I would love if you joined in – or started – the conversation below. Be blessed and I look forward to building this community.
Y’all keep the acorn spinnin’
#dontbreakthechain
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Ecclesiastes 3: 1- 8 (KJV)
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
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I am not one usually given to dramatics – so instead of a bunch of fanfare and meaningless sentimentality I am announcing that I have decided to change the direction and overall tenor of “Pick a Direction and Go!”
I will be laying low for a couple weeks, maybe a month, to do some soul searching and brainstorming to figure out the direction mickholt.com will be taking.
All for the better – I hope.
Roughly a year ago, on the advice of a good blogging friend, I made half the jump from hosted to self-hosted blog. I had spent a couple years at BlogSpot, on Google and felt it was time to get my own dot com. I chose to that as the cost of self-hosting seemed steep for someone that did not have anything to sell or anyway to recoup any of those funds – so I paid for “mickholt.com” and decided to let WordPress.com host and see how things went
The results have been a mixed bag of super highs and extreme lows – the life of a blogger I suppose. I have had several posts get great response and some, well, not so much – which is fine. It has helped me to see a couple things. For one, I can write any topic – I don’t fear the dreaded topic and two, there are things I seem better suited to tackle than others so that is one of the indicators I plan to look at over the next couple weeks.
PADAG was originally intended as a way to help people that were dragging their feet or struggling to find God’s will for their life. Not all of my posts have fulfilled that criteria but more often than not my posts have had, what I considered to be, a solid picture at least that God is in control, has a plan and that sometimes we need to get out of HIS way and let him work through us – all while doing our part.
Unfortunately it is not resonating with people the way I had hoped.
OK, well, as was pointed out to me earlier today change is often difficult but necessary in blogging as well as in life. You don’t have to be an adventurer to make a change in your life, work or something as insignificant as a blog you just have to be willing to take the first step.
Similar to our faith walk with Jesus. He’s waiting for us to trust him and step towards him. You don’t have to turn around to find him – he’s right in front of you. You just have to take the first step – you’ll find he’ll already be running to you when you do.
It’s almost like I cannot help myself.
Will a change in direction for PADAD – which will include a name change, though it will still be at mickholt.com – produce the results I want?
Don’t know but I have to try. Otherwise I am not being true to myself and that can obviously be seen and felt in my writing.
Mick Holt 
12 Comments
I’m sure you will find the right direction to go. People just seem so busy and there is so much to read. Why pick mine? Why pick yours? I am looking for encouragement and inspiration and your posts certainly fulfill that so I hope you won’t diverse too far from that into mechanics and star wars memorabilia! I’m just kidding you. I am always open for an encouraging word that leads me to trust more in the Lord.
I noticed my link above takes you to my old wordpress.com site. I have recently moved to self-hosted as well and I am found at http://idaretobehappy.com
Thanks for the update – I will stop by 🙂
Thank you for the encouragement and I doubt I will stray too far usually what comes out if what comes out – It’s just been something I have been thinking about. I am glad that you have been both encouraged and inspired by my words. Knowing that makes me feel better. It is always possibility that Star Wars will come up in a post or two or three but you don’t have to worry about mechanics – of any kind!
Thanks again for the encouragement!
“Will a change in direction….produce the results I want?” What are those results? What do you really want from this blog? You’ve gained a following, you have encouraged others to seek God’s will by getting out there and serving. I’ve told you this before, I think your strongest writing has been when you are very open/vulnerable. I’ve also seen growth in your writing through this blog. Your overall structure is stronger, your editing skills have improved (LOL) and your writing is tight, to the point. So I ask again, what results do you hope to produce? When you can answer that question, you’ll PADAG. Congrats on 4 years of blogging! And congrats on ss turned novel.
Becky, I think the answer to your question AND the answer to my question is what I am really looking for – the purpose of this blog and what I want to get out of it. You’re right, I have encouraged some and I don’t want to abandon the readers that I do have. But you’re right, I have to figure out what it is that I want. I know that I am not looking to make money from this blog, that was never part of the equation. I don’t have a program or book to sell (not yet anyway)so I am not looking for that. That is also one of the reasons I don’t shell out the costs of self hosting. So, I really think that’s the goal of my break – to find the “Direction” I want this blog to “Go” and choose it.
Thanks, as always, for the encouragement. I appreciate it and your friendship.
Mick,
I am praying for you as you take this hiatus and figure out what you want and what He wants. I know it will be great. He has great plans in store for you.
Thanks Becky. He does and he has them for you as well!
What I have enjoyed from PADAG is your honesty. Your willingness to talk about the real stuff of faith. I hope that continues to be part of what you do. I appreciate your blog, as it is one of the few written by men that I read. I enjoy that *different* perspective. My wheelhouse seems to be almost entirely middle-aged women, and though I appreciate their friendships greatly, it’s good to hear from the “other side.”
I love your sense of humor, and would love to see some more of that incorporated in what you write.
Mick, I know that God will honor your seeking as you look for a new direction. He knows what He wants from you, and I know you’re seeking it diligently. It will be revealed to you. THE Force is with you!!
GOD BLESS!
Sharron,
As always, thanks for your input. I am honored that you read at all but to be one of the only men writers you read – seriously – Thank you for trusting me with your time. I do appreciate that!
excited to see where you are going with this…I have gotten custom graphics and logos done for my blog and hope to unveil this SOON!
Thanks April – I am excited and a bit nervous. Look forward to seeing the changes on your blog.