the end. for now... // September 13, 2008

I've been back at work for a week now. My 20 day post-deployment vacation (most of which I have spent lazing around the house diligently) was brilliant but all good things must come to an end and so, it would seem, will chaplainfisher.com.

I've had a word doc sitting on my desktop for several weeks now called "last post" but it was blank as nothing significant would come to mind. Once in a while, I'd open it, try a few lines and then get interested in some other, vastly more interesting thing on the www and the "last post" would get closed. But here it is at last, the actual, honest, funeral dirge for what has been to me a good friend for the last four years.

I am a goal-oriented person. Most everything I put my hand to has what Powell coined as an "exit strategy." I rarely take on a project that has no clear objective. This blog was no different.

I started the blog in an effort to keep my family and friends informed about my new life as an Army chaplain. Back then, everything was amazing and new, fascinating and weird - the whole Army experience was changing who I was at the core and I wanted everyone I knew to be aware of it. Now, I'm thoroughly a soldier, professional clergy (as they say) and nothing much about it is new anymore. I find that the things I want to write about would be inappropriate fodder for a site that is so foundationally a site about an Army chaplain. It would be inappropriate for instance to write about politics given that as a professional soldier I am to be more or less publicly apolitical.

Beyond all that - I'm just kinda done writing for awhile. I've been fighting it before I went to Iraq for the second time and since then its just been like pulling teeth to put anything on the page. I may emerge again under a different, less military-oriented title but until then - thanks for coming along with me on this journey.

You have encouraged me when there was no encouragement.

You have been with me during some of the darkest, most frightening times of my life.

You have joined me in the most joyful times.

So, to you who have kept up - Thank You!

Before I end, the biggest thanks is in order - this site would not have been possible without my dear friend and best man in my wedding - Jesse Gardener. (Founder of Plasticmind.com) Back when I had just started this site through iblog, he was in need of some material for his portfolio and designed the original look (remember the cammo?) and hosted it on his server. Since then, its had several awesome upgrades and has moved from place to place. Now, I don't have to be the web bum any more Jesse! Thanks for everything!!

The site will stay up for the next couple months and then move to its permanent archive on my .mac server. I still get a lot of hits from men and women that are looking into becoming chaplains so I think I will leave it up for them. I may keep blogging from time to time, who knows - I never do...

So, I think it appropriate to end this blog with a blessing and encourage you to keep seeking peace above all else:

May the God who knows your future better than you know your past, keep you with all grace and peace. Amen.