Persona Non Bloggus

There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven:

…a time to be silent, and a time to speak.

Ecclesiastes 3, v.1 and v.7

Two years ago yesterday, I launched out onto the “bloggy cybersea.” Somehow I managed to survive the use of that horrible turn of phrase and go on to write 526 other posts in 64 categories which generated 4,195 comments. Some of those comments came from me, a good deal of them from pesky spammers hawking everything from cheap, cheesy porn to counterfeit Nike shoes (those have been fried for the most part by my Super-Duper Askimet Spam Zapper and don’t figure into the total count), but most came from the likes of you, my beloved Fusioneers, whom I have come to appreciate very much. I’m honored that people have actually found something they deem worth reading here and have hung around these past two years.

Yet, I feel a little like Forrest Gump this morning (so what else is new, you ask?). You remember, that scene where he has been running all the over the country, his entourage tagging along, and suddenly he stops in the middle of the road and says, “I think I’ll go home now.”

Well, that’s me. I think I’ll stop blogging now–at least for a while.

I’ve been thinking about taking a sabbatical for a long time, and it just seems right to kick it off on my second blogiversary. Blogging has, in the immortal words of Chico Escuela, “been berry, berry good to me.” I’ve been able to have a lot of fun, hone my skills as a writer and make a lot of new friends. I’ve also benefited from having my worldview enlarged and enhanced by the words of others. More than anything, I have realized that, as weird as I am at times, I am not alone.

But I have been feeling the weight of this thing for some time now, and I would like to go persona non bloggus for a while just to see what’s it’s like. Sometimes, I feel like I’ve created a monster in Ocular Fusion, one that demands daily feeding. As good as blogging can be, there are always the ever-present dangers of getting hooked on success, enamored with The Numbers (which, of course, must always go up, uP, UP!) and addicted to affirmation and praise. I suppose that I’ll suffer the ignominy of watching my Techonorati and StatCounter numbers drop if I take some time off, but as a good friend of mine said recently after taking a blogging sabbatical himself, “It is the kind of wound that liberates.”

And sometimes I just get plain weary of hearing my own voice. I want to spend some time catching up on my reading, resting and reflecting. Solitude and silence can be good for the soul. And part of being able to say something significant is taking the time to listen to what others have said and are saying.

But I don’t plan to stop writing. I enjoy it, and on a good day I feel that I do a half-way decent job of it. I am currently exploring some other writing opportunities and venues, and if something happens in that regard, you’ll be the first to know. And I do plan to return here and write some more, I just don’t know when that’ll be. But I think I’ll know it when I feel it.

Persona non bloggus–it has a nice ring. But I don’t plan to get too used to it, and neither should you.

Blessings and Peace to all whose eyes fall upon these words.

31 Comments

  1. mmlace

    Dr. Eyeguy, that hurts my heart. I feel that you do much better than a “half-way decent job” of writing. Indeed, over the last few months I have read most everything in your archives (except maybe the all the soccer posts) and have grown quite accustomed to my daily dose of Ocular Fusion. It has been a wonderful way to start off my mornings, and I will miss it.

    Yet I understand your need for a rest. I’ve only been blogging for a few months (and I don’t even write every day!) but I can already begin to understand how one can become weary in it after so long. I can only hope that I will still be blogging in two years! So your sabbatical is much-deserved, and I pray that it does you much good.

    So it is now, with a slight mist in my eyes (yes, really), that I say take as much time as you need. And know that there’s a girl here in LR, AR waiting patiently. And know that it will be a happy day here when there is a new post at Ocular Fusion! Much love!

  2. That Girl

    I’ve been at that point for a long time but I’m afraid I would miss my cyber friends too much.

    I will be waiting to hear from you on November 25. 🙂

  3. reJoyce

    Blessings and peace to you, too!

  4. cg

    Ditto what mmlace said… this kansas-transplant-to-michigan reader is already dreading the fusion withdrawls. But I don’t want to be selfish, you deserve to take a break. So…. Godspeed for now, and we look forward to your return.

    Grace and peace.

  5. JRB

    Facebook is where it’s at, anyway.

    See you there!

  6. David U

    Nice ploy! Yeah, now you’ll get all these faithful readers to tell you how much they are going to miss you…….please don’t stop…..what will we do with you?………..etc. Blah, blah, blah!! 🙂

    Well, it worked on me!! Dude, I honor your wish to take a break, but please don’t let it be a long one! I gotta have some other folks out here in the blogosphere covering my back………especially when it comes to our Tide!! 🙂 Seriously, I understand the feeling of wanting a break. Been there, done that. In fact, doing it somewhat currently. But, it’s in your blood, and you have a gift. Don’t you remember……it would be a SIN if you don’t use your talents!!! 🙂 So, hurry back…….but have a wonderful break.

    ROLL TIDE ROLL
    DU

  7. Stoogelover

    I will miss you and will look for you in the future … but I often feel like doing the same thing with my blog. Just a question though … how will we get the truth about Tide things? Can’t trust the media. You are the prophet! Do we just walk by faith at this point? Do you have confidence in us to do that? This is serious stuff!!!

  8. Hal

    I will miss your posts, but certainly understand your need for a sabbatical. I have often wondered how you do it, really. Have a great rest, my friend.

    I just got back from 3 days of backpacking in the wilderness of Pisgah national forrest, and I had to check out the stats on the Cougar v. Tide game. It looks like the Cougs gave the Tide a run for their money. I’m glad to see it was close, at least.

    Enjoy your break. I look forward to your return – when it happens.

  9. Donna

    I’ll be missing you….

  10. Keith Brenton

    Aw, nerts.

    There.

    You’ve gone and made me cuss.

  11. Keith

    Maybe the most intellectual, humorous, informative and passionate blog that I read. Not bad for a Bama Boy! Take your well deserved break…all the good writers do. Like D.U. said…you have a talent so don’t stay gone so long. I make lots of trips to the Cullman area…maybe we can hook up sometime in the near future. Godspeed to you friend. Go Hogs.

  12. Brady

    Mike: You’ve done a very good job. And I will miss you while you’re gone. Brady

  13. Mike the Eyeguy

    Hey, this must be what it’s like to attend your own funeral!

    Thanks, guys, y’all are too kind. I’ll miss y’all too. But when I’m tanned and rested, I’ll be back.

    Stoogie, I highly recommend the good folks at rollbamaroll.com for all things Tide in the interim. Unlike me, they actually know something about football.

  14. mmlace

    There is an Ocular Fusion-shaped hole in my heart this morning. Perhaps I should take this time to go back and read all the soccer posts I skipped over…since that’s all I’ve got left for now…they will have to suffice. Miss you already, bro! Much love!

  15. Doublevision

    Remember the old commercial–“You deserve a break today…..”

  16. Scott

    Godspeed, Eyeguy. We hardly knew ye…

  17. greg

    is redneck mike taking a break, too?

  18. ME

    Sorry I missed this yesterday; shame on ME.

    I forgot that our blogversaries were so close together. I still think that’s pretty weird.

    Catch your breath but don’t quit forever — you’re too good to let it go completely.

    -me

  19. Carolinagirl

    You know you’ll be missed.

  20. Mike the Eyeguy

    greg–MTRN is taking a break too; although he might make an occasional appearance now and then depending on how well Bama is doing!

    ME–Thank you and happy blogversary. Carry on until I can get my wind back and jump back in and join you in the fray.

    And to all–I appreciate your well wishes.

  21. mmlace

    Well, now, there’s a glimmer of hope! I would be thrilled with a post from Redneck–you take what you can get, you know! So I hope Bama does well enough for us to at least hear from him in the not-too-distant future. That’s enough to make me say “Roll Tide!”

    And Go Hogs!

  22. bpb

    I’m really gonna be so sad to not read what you have to say a couple of times a week. And since you gave us “warning” and didn’t just disappear, I guess we can let you off the hook for a short time. I really enjoy reading what you have to say, so hopefully you won’t be gone too long.

  23. Jeff stidman

    NO more blogging!?!??! I’ve been keeping up with your family for the past year with this blog. I can’t tell you how many times late at night I’ve called Terry into the office to look at one of your posts about your family. I just hope it’s not several years again before I hear from you. Writing is one of your talents– use it. Jeff

  24. Mike the Eyeguy

    Jeff, I’ll be back. And even if I’m not, there’s always The Annual Christmas Letter!

  25. Kate

    Nicely said Mike. Silence is golden.

    Now, just send your readers to me.

  26. Mike the Eyeguy

    Everybody, go to Kate’s place, NOW!!

  27. Jason

    I guess I’ll actually have to seek you out at church if I want to find out what’s going on with you.

    Bummer.

  28. Lynda Bee

    Oh Man! (Heavy Sigh). I understand – but I will miss it! It’s been so cool reconnecting again and catching up on everything with you. I love your sense of humor – and words of widsom – and so happy that you & Eyegal & Numeros Uno, Dos & Tres have been doing so well. 🙂 I will keep checking back hoping you get bored with your “retirement”! God Bless!

    P.S. – Had to share – My oldest, James has asked to be baptized! (He’s 10 – as big as me – and has feet bigger than my husband Jim!). I’m so thrilled I could bust! Thanks for sharing your experience with that recently – very cool!

    Take care – and make sure you put me on the Christmas letter list!

  29. KS

    I’ll keep checking, hoping the itch becomes too strong for you to stay away.

  30. Laurie

    I’m assuming you’re still checking back here periodically, or being informed by e-mail when you get a comment. I read this post shortly after you wrote it, but didn’t leave a comment then. Perhaps hoping this was an early April fool’s joke?

    I understand the choice, though. What starts as an outlet can take on a life of its own that controls you. But I truly hope you are pursuing other writing options, because it wouldn’t be a good thing for your voice to go silent. In a time when Christianity has become so ugly and splintered by politics (what would Christ say about that, do you think?), yours was always a voice of calm and reason and, above all, grace. We need more of that in the world, not less.

    And I, unlike all the others, avidly read your soccer stuff and skipped your American football stuff. 🙂

  31. Mike the Eyeguy

    Thanks to all for the kind comments. You’re going to make it hard for me to stay away too long.

    Bee-Congrats on James and his baptism! Send me an email with your address (miketheeyeguy@comcast.net) and I’ll get you on the Christmas letter list.

    Laurie–Thanks so much. I’m enjoying my rest, but I promise not to stay away too awfully long.

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