Genesis

I'm feeling the weight of this very first blog post. I mean, THIS is my first impression as a blogger, and believe me, I don't take that lightly. (Man, it kind of seems like this blog should have a truly significant purpose, like helping people...but it doesn't.)



It's a weird feeling to have to make a first impression with people who already know and love me (because let's be serious, who else is going to spend time reading this?) With my parents, my first impression consisted of being a naked screaming baby, so I'm pretty sure I've got them in the bag, but with the Inces, the stakes were higher. My parents were going to love me no matter what. The Inces didn't have to. I knew at least after Susan's first compliment to me -- (which by the way was given during my first date with Taylor - yes, his whole family was there), "Robin, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but..." -- that I was at least being myself. And I'm going to try and do that through this blog.



So now I am going to try to captivate you with a witty first blog post because I am a (reformed) psycho about beginnings. Did you guys know that about me?



I don't know when it started, but at some point in my life, beginnings became the gauge at which I measured the future success of most situations (friendships, dating relationships, jobs). Scary I know, and not a very accurate way of living life though it did help me avoid an embarassing first kiss under the glaring lights of the entrance to my freshman dorm at A&M, but we won't go there. My first impression of Taylor was, "what does this (really good looking!) preppy guy hanging out in loafers and a polo shirt at a high school youth group BBQ think he's doing?" Mind you, I was wearing boys' cargo shorts that I got at abercrombie kids and a graphic tee that read I love green eggs and ham. Apparently I thought you were supposed to blend in with the kids, not actually look like the adult in charge that you actually were paid to be. And guess whose clothes are still in style?



But my first "dating" impression of Taylor was of his coming to my house a few hours before our first date with a bunch of roses he cut himself and our jumping on the trampoline. Let's just say I was in Heaven after that. And it's been (mostly :)) Heaven ever since.









But back to 'first things', during those college years, I always felt plagued that if something didn't start out well at the beginning, it would ultimately be doomed (ooh, Taylor take note - there is some serious sermon material in that misguided theology). Thankfully I don't live like this anymore because by God's grace, as I've matured in my relationship with Him, He's shown me all through Scripture how he loves to redeem bad beginnings. (Case in point: Adam and Eve).




I was talking with my students about this very idea in my English class a few days ago. We're studying a novel where the main character doesn't have a relationship with his father. He is finally recognized and claimed by his father when he does something impressive, something worthy of his father's name. We talked about how we're thankful that God doesn't do that with us. He takes a bad beginning and redeems us:




"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

But sometimes, old patterns creep up...hence the weight I've felt in writing this post.

I feel like if I don't captivate you with my impressive writing skills that this whole blog will be a waste of time -- something that you eagerly look at to get a glimpse into our new tea-sipping, hill-hiking, warm-clothes wearing Scottish life (O my Glory! The Lord obviously has a lot of grace stored up for me for such a time is this) but instead find yourself bored to tears or driven to them out of the frustration and resentment you feel in your obligation to read it. Y'all are shocked and slack jawed right now aren't you because


a) I'm not usually this forthright with my feelings and


b) since when is Robin Ince dramatic?!?



Fooled you. Oh wait, that was supposed to be yesterday.


A girl that writes a blog that I follow regularly beautifully put into words why I have put off this post for so long. Taylor has been asking me to start this blog ever since we talked of the possibility of going to Edinburgh, but I haven't been able to face the blank screen. I wanted to leave this aforementioned captivating and witty first post in "potential-land" because there it will actually be captivating and witty. It can stay where all of my other grand plans for writing have stayed, safe from the criticism of others. But I seem to remember some Scripture mentioning something about submitting to one another. So here it is -- our blog in all of it's glory. Be kind with your comments, but not false. I didn't create this blog to build up my ego, but to bore you to tears or drive you to them in frustration and resentment.



Love,


robs