Welcome to The Dyeries! A newsletter series chronicling myself, Davis Dyer, and what happens in my life and my family's life! Here is how I arrived at launching this new series:
When I began writing online, I wrote little newspaper-style posts. I pressured myself to write every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, then publish it at 8 a.m. I even named my publication "MWF @ 8" after the publishing schedule with a little play on everyone's favorite college courses.
This taught me how to write through tremendous amounts of trial and error, but it was not sustainable. In the 3.5 years since beginning to write online, I have had three different jobs, moved houses in Nashville 3 different times, went to software school, met… dated… and married my now wife, and many other happenings are sprinkled in there. Thus, I have not been able to write as often as I would like.
Last year, at this time, I wanted to be an entrepreneur so I could be famous; I had to write a post so somebody would hear me. I had to get a specific job to get the next job. I had to read everything so I could know everything.
Slowness was not in my DNA, but was it all in the name of progress? Often, I feel like I was too busy to excuse Davis Dyer from any obligations or ever having to address the hard things in his life. "I'll do that later. Right now, I'm too busy." was the soundtrack to my life.
All of that has come to a screeching halt.
Currently, I am entering what appears to be a very calm season of life. I just got married, I'm eight months into a career (not a job), I own my house, my health is in order, and everything seems to be slowing down. It's incredible to be in this season, but quite frankly, I'm astonished that I can accept it.
Why Write
I can only accept it because I know the ultimate work has already been completed; otherwise, I would still be in the race to the top. There is nothing more Davis Dyer can do to save himself or his family. Jesus brought to completion everything that I could hope to accomplish in this life at the cross.
As a result, I get to enjoy the freedom of working for His purpose in my life. There is no requirement to meet some standard that I feel makes me worthy of salvation. I haven't stopped working; I've just changed the why in my work.
I'm blessed to realize this now because I find myself with a little more time to do the writing that I love. However, this time, my purpose is different: I no longer value writing about anything that does not contain a Gospel context.
Why? Because anything not rooted in Jesus Christ doesn't matter.
It's the social media perception theory where you always look back at old posts and think, "Nothing about that was funny, interesting, relevant, etc." It's cringeworthy and creates overwhelming anxiety until you hit the delete button.
Why does that happen to everyone? Because time brings to light what you thought was true or relevant. Depending on the content, that realization can come in a matter of minutes or years. The same theory is true with almost every newsletter I've posted.
I'm not saying everything I've written to this point was a waste of time. On the contrary, it's led me to this conclusion! I can look back at many of my posts and see the Gospel context oozing from the words, but my conclusion sidestepped it.
When I changed the name of this newsletter publication to Project 21st last year, I set out to write with a more personal tone. I realized that content did not need another non-authentic voice explaining why you should think a certain way. Instead, and especially as AI erupted, I made it a goal to be more honest and transparent about myself in my writing. The content world desperately needs more authenticity.
Now, I have someone I love in my life, and I am committed to being one with her. That means everything I write is now a reflection on her, too. Does it mean we have to agree on everything? No, but finite opinions pale in comparison to eternal Gospel truth - something we will always agree on.
Thus, how do I ensure my writing doesn't look bad for my wife and me? Write content rooted in Jesus Christ.
Dyeries Content
Writing is how I think - I've unlocked places in my mind that I would have never discovered had it not been for writing. It's my way of reconciling my head and my heart when they are disconnected.
The Dyeries will be shorter summaries of what is going on in mine and my new family's life. I have so much to learn about what it means to lead a family. Writing about the truth of what is going on will allow me not only to share authentic content with my audience but also to grow as a leader.
I'm excited about this direction, but it's also the most nervous I've been for a creative venture. Why? It's probably because this actually matters. I can start, stop, change, transition, and pivot multiple occupations or specialties to pursue in work - my "public" life is plural. I only get one chance with family, friends, and others God has put in my life - my private life is singular.
Yes, the crazy waves of life will come right back, crashing down on my "calm season." Instead of doing everything to cover it up and try to correct the course with my own will, I'm here to document it and walk through it with Jesus as my hope. If you know me, I've never been comfortable sharing my private life, so faith is the only way this is possible.
I know by issues #50, 100, 500, and 1,000, I'll be able to look back at all the previous posts without social media regret and appreciate the work. Why? Because following myself has only failed me; following Jesus has never failed me, and He won't fail us going forward.
Love it!