Back in September I started TREE Year 4 with a small fanfare announcing a series in which I would be riffing on Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God. The book grabbed my attention in my early 20s when I was a zealous Christian. I returned to often over the last three decades. I’ve been outside the Christian faith for a long time now and I still find the book compelling.
For years, I wanted to do a Brother Lawrence book. I started the series certain this was how I was going to write it, then two things didn’t happen:
connection
inspiration
FFOREST folk didn’t seem too interested in the series and I ran out of things to say after a few posts. The series died, right out in the open where you could see it not living. I was a little disappointed but mostly I was like, Huh, I thought there was something there but it turns out there’s nothing.
This is one of several FFOREST fails over the last three years.
My point is that if you are creating things for people other people, you have to put your work in front of them and sometimes that work will fail. That failure is wonderful because it gives you information you can’t get anywhere else. If I hadn’t started that series I’d still think I had a Brother Lawrence book in me. Now I know I don’t, and I’m free to move on to the next thing.
Trent needs a moment before he’s ready to move on.
Related to today’s post, in April, Skyler and I announced with a large-ish fanfare that Jecelyn Shenkin would be joining the FFOREST team to turn this newsletter into a business. Then Jecelyn’s life went in an unexpected direction and she needed to leave the team in July. (She and her family are fine.) I was like, Huh, I thought a business was going to happen but it turns out that it’s not (yet).
Grow slowly
Jeff
P.S. My book is available for your amusement.
Fascinating. (Also been there, and it doesn’t feel great so I send you my knowing nod and a hearty pat on the back in solidarity.) To riff on our riffs from the past couple days, maybe Brother Lawrence poetic density was no match for your short n sweet format. Maybe you would have an audience somewhere else. As you said, definitely worth the expedition to find out. And I’m grateful Tree is a place to experiment. (FWIW, I still say your autobiography was my favorite “season” so far, and I’m loving these sketches.)
I was a singer in a rock and roll band. I have a good register and love blending my voice with the instruments and free styling. However, I am not powerful enough to do lead vocals. How do I know? I’m remembering failing out loud, literally. It wasn’t embarrassing but it made me stay put in backup vocals, where I thrive. It may only be karaoke 🎤 now but it’s still a groove I enjoy.