Casa de Helwig

This is a quick consideration. There is a two fold reality in blogging.

First, in brutal honesty there are only a handful of readers for blogs such as ours. As grand as intentions for world wide impact might be (and trust me, they are not), in all likelihood grandeur is still an illusion. These blogs mainly serve as a medium for friends and family to stay connected. Nothing more, nothing less. And that is enough. This is reality de facto.
Second, there is the reality of the World Wide Web. Yet, because we choose to use the intranet (tribute to Virg), we are making ourselves available for mass reading, critiquing, influencing, angering, encouraging, informing, etcetera. This is reality de jure.

Though we read and write with a specific (small and familiar) audience in mind, let us consider that we do so coram deo.

Blurt = Brent

(This post is a re-release. I hope some of you will recognize and appreciate the man who provided the inspiration.)

An ode to Blurt.

There exists in our world (by “world” I mean the present circle of readers and fellow bloggers) an individual who possesses one of the most awe inspiring talents known unto us. This man can craft (and I must say “craft,” for he is an artist in his own right) a drama using living puppets (humans, namely us) on demand with no preparation or prior calculation.

Consider the great works of theater throughout history. Men labor years to bring about their creations. They pour over the possibilities of circumstances that will unfold on the stage in order that their drama, their work, will end precisely as they intend. Yet among us walks one who works his magic in mere nanoseconds! He needs no advance notice! It is almost instantaneous and without warning.

If you have ever been privileged to take part in one of the Playwright’s works you can
appreciate what I’m trying to say. You find yourself in a conversation that seemingly is innocent enough. Lines of thought and expression flow back and forth between participants, all the while going unnoticed are his efforts. He raises a question here, interjects a thought there, makes a subtle point in the course of discussion, all while quietly weaving and sculpting another masterful piece. The stamp of his work is only realized at the closing or end of the conversation. Once the participants have pulled back enough to realized that they have been casted in another human puppet drama, the Puppeteer’s deed has been done. He has brought about his intended climax and conclusion, yet seemingly remaining a participant himself.

So here’s to Blurt, the Subtle Instigating Puppet Master. You have our admiration……and mild frustration.

With much delight and slight trepidation, I am finally writing a post. I realize that my posts will be delivered with a modest amount of astuteness and little contemplation in comparison to my husband’s, but nonetheless there has been a cry for relief among our fellow bloggers.

To institute this respite, I hope to weave a proper depiction of our lives while ensuring a casual read with extensive opportunities for pictures.

True to my word, I have posted an album with a few pictures of our recent move. It was quite a move due to the freezing conditions here in San Angelo, but we are thankful for the help we received from the Cozart’s and Chad’s mom. Reading the captions will give you more insight to the world of the newly married Helwigs!

Some of you may be aware of the 2006 winner of TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year. If you are not aware, no matter, you soon will be. For we would like to follow the lead of one of our nation’s (if not the globe’s) premier magazine by dedicating this post You, our Commentors. It should not be a breathtaking shock to us (in lieu of the caliber of our friends and acquaintances) the amazing number of comments we received following the inaugural post of Casa de Helwig. Not to stop there, the comments had spanned the gamete of literary types and devices. You provided humor, depth, insight, foreshadowing, inspiration, alliteration, inquiry, advice, drama and truth, among other things. And it is in regards to our genuine and sincere appreciation to the warm reception that we christen this blog’s sequel post in your name Commentors and send it out into the unpredictable blogosphere hoping for the promise of another safe and fruitful voyage among the uncharted modems of the masses.

Yet before we part ways, please allow us to impart a word of hard reality. Fittingly, this word is taken from you, our Commentors.  From the keyboard of the surprisingly quotable Jay Scott, “you’ll never have this many comments again.”

It seems to me that it is almost an universal rule that a building anticipation of excitement exists when it comes to the thought of new beginnings. These “new beginnings” can be in and of anything. (It must be said that the excitement can also be manifested in the form of dread, but that’s not what we’re talking about here, huh?!) Excitedly awaiting things such as the new year, homemade ice cream, birth of a child, new book, wedding, new job, new dress, new contacts, new moon, new home, new video games, etc. You get the idea. It is that feeling of excitement and anticipation that has been building in Casa de Helwig for an undetermined yet lengthy amount of time.

The Mrs and I have been faithful readers of many web-logs or blogs, as it is known to the laymen (beginning with the Genisis of our blog world, cozart.org). As our relationship and reading (of blogs) grew, we surmised that it would be both profitable and good to have our very own web-log. There are many reasons for this, all of which will manifest themselves in the future in actual posts. Yet to serve as a precursor of things to come, I wanted to share some of our rationale now.

In no particular order, some of those reasons are as follows:

1. Egoism. (The very egotistical, presumptuous, and probably #1 reason.) To allow folks to see what we’ve been up to as of late, or at the very least what bane trivialities run through our minds.
2. Entertainment. The attempt at mild humor, insightful posts, rousing topics, and the unabashedly verbose espousing on who-knows-what, will most likely be a strong influence to this blog. (There will be more “laughing at” than “laughing with”)

3. Engage. The two contributors (primarily) and possible readers will oft find themselves in worthwhile discussions with each other (yes, Heather and I talking back and forth via the World Wide Web) on topics ranging from cook wear to cleaning techniques to covenants to church order to Christ. (Here’s hoping and striving to have most of said discussions terminating in and on the LORD. Thus it could be stated succinctly that reason #3 [and all other listed reasons for that matter, directly or indirectly] for Casa de Helwig is the unending glory of God.)

4. Emprove (to continue with the E’s). Both HB and I want to write better. Is there a more efficient way to improve than to actually write?

5. Enterest (again, forgive the spelling). We are interested in what other’s are doing in and with their lives and opinions they hold. (Yes, this is a guised solicitation for “comments.”)

6. Enstruction (spelling…duh). My dear wife Heather said to do so, and thus I’m following her instruction on this matter. At this point doesn’t the all to often used cliche, “When Momma ain’t happy, nobody is happy” sum it up just right?

7. Equilibrium. We hope to show a wide variety of topics and tones, and thus ultimately display a balance in all that will reflect (and assist!) the balance of our lives. Soberness and lighthearted fun. Deep ponderings of life and vain athletic questioning. Humor and hope. Debate and delight. Scripture and sales. Hopefully the balance will be guided by a growing sense and demonstration that we are servants of the living God and He brings all things into their proper position.

Thus concluding this lengthy inaugural entry, I will give reason for the title. As I considered this first entry, I knew that as exciting as seemed to break ground on a blog, it would never live up to its hype. Thus the contributors are little disappointed, but nonetheless (and more so) excited. And with that, I welcome ourselves to the blogosphere.

—Mr. Helwig

PS. 1. Posts will NOT be this long on a regular basis…….I think!

2. HUGE “thank you” to Virgil Slade Cozart for his selfless effort in getting this little
project on the ground. A friend in every sense. Thanks Virg.