Dear Karen by Jon Swanson
another blogger I know mentioned that Jon Swanson of Levite Chronicles was a dear, and after reading his writings I definitely agreed. His ponderings include his ministry, his thoughtfulness and his everyday life; he truly loves his work, his family - he writes with a care and a level of exploration that is en"dear"ing. I appreciate his insight, his perspectives and he has a truly rich and warm smile. Which I got to experience when I met him this past May.
In seeking summer guest authors Jon graciously agreed and sent this after a friendly reminder. It's a dear jon letter or a bit of a " please don't make me write a guest author post for you" post. Certainly not what I expected and yet coming from him ...it's positively perfect - I adore him for it.
Dear Karen,
I'm supposed to write a guest post for you.
"Supposed to" is an interesting phrase use. You invited people to write. I offered. You graciously accepted.
So when I say "I'm supposed", it is a self-inflicted supposition. It isn't like it's your fault, it isn't a choiceless obligation, an other-inflicted burden. I volunteered.
And when I add "for you", it further distances me from my willingness. "I have to do this to make you happy, to get you off my back."
And when I phrase it as obligation, it can create sympathy in conversations in which I want people to pity me for my busy schedule and excuse what I'm not getting done. And it's not like I haven't known about the deadline for weeks. I have had lots of time to write lots of things.
Wow.
See, writing for me is an opportunity to discover something of what is going on in my head and heart. I sit with a blank screen and then learn. One learning style instrument tells me that I'm an intrapersonal learner. So writing helps me learn, helps me figure out what I know. The very process of ordering words teaches. Teaches me, I mean. It might help others, too, I suppose, but the first audience always is me.
And so, here I am, blaming you for an obligation that isn't your fault, which isn't an obligation at all, which is an opportunity, which could teach me what I don't yet know, which isn't for you anyway, which was freely entered into.
I don't know, Karen. I'll have to get back to you on whether I can get anything written in time. And I'm sorry for blaming you for my choices. And thanks for the opportunity to talk.
Jon
I write at levite.wordpress.com. And watch lent2008.wordpress.com. 
taken exclusively for me by Jon - see the great smile?
Karen Hanrahan ~ Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant/Blog Publisher
708.482.0678 ~ Websites: Nutrition, Weight Loss, and Green Clean
This is absolutely delightful in its simplicity and honesty. We all do this or I should say, I do this. Writing is definitely how I learn and one of my best reasons for writing. I have never seen anyone else state that writing does this for them to. Thanks for sharing this. I love it.
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I am so glad you appreciated Jon's post - be sure to visit his Blog/ I am very clear I would not have made it through the grief of my divorce last summer w/o the distraction of my blog and as you and Jon describe, the insights that come from writing.
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Thanks, Patricia.
I like how you shift that - "we all, I should say, I do". I think there is a learning style difference here. And a thinking style. It's interesting-I talk about people who think on the outside of their heads, people who are constantly talking, asking questions of themselves out loud. I'm not one of those. I'm pretty quiet about much of my thinking. However, I do think with my fingers...which is much the same thing.
hmmm. Thanks for helping me think!
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Jon, making others think is what I want my writing and my blog to do. Glad I could do that for you.
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Patricia - You and Jon are very thought provoking bloggers. I am grateful for you both.
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