Comic books have been a part of my life for nearly 25 years, and though there have certainly been seasons during which I have been forced temporarily to lay them aside, those seasons have been rare and brief, and I’ve always found a way to get them back in short order. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been forced to take a hard look at my life and my priorities, and after a close (and at times, emotionally trying) evalution, I have decided to suspend my pursuit of this beloved hobby.
How did it come to this, you might ask? For the answer to that, I will direct you to the following story.
About a week and a half ago, a comic book website was searching for new writers, and I expressed my interest in the position. It was a volunteer opportunity, but I had always wanted to write about comics in a forum from which I might have the opportunity to talk to–perhaps, even meet–some of the creators whose work I enjoyed so much. The email conversations with the EIC and CEO were wonderful, and about a week after I submitted a writing sample to them, they invited me to join the team. I was elated, and honored to have a chance to write for the site. I chose the pseudonym under which I would publish, the publisher team to which I wanted to belong, and began preparations for assignments.
But then, reality hit. I began to think about the fact that I have a son on the way, who is due to arrive on or before February 24–and, by extension, the necessary medical expenses that we will incur as a part of the deal. I remembered that my wife and I had planned to enroll our daughter in our church preschool at some point this year, and the expense that would add to an already strained budget. Looking at the numbers, my wife said that we couldn’t afford the latter, and that we would probably have to ask for money for my daughter’s birthday so that we could afford it. And that’s when it hit me: I was spending around $40 a month on comics (plus the gas to drive back and forth to the shop once a week), and (in part) because of that, my daughter couldn’t go to preschool.
I have two goals in life: to be the best follower of Jesus I can be, and to be the best husband and Daddy possible. I would be failing in both if I robbed my daughter of a chance to grow and develop so I could continue pursuing a hobby. I realized then and there that comics would have to go.
Well, obviously–if I’m not buying comics, I can’t write about comics. So, only one day after receiving all my credentials, I messaged the CEO and EIC of the site, apologized, and explained my decision. The conversation was great, and I greatly appreciated the mercy and grace they extended to me in allowing me to step away.
I won’t lie: this has been a harder decision than I thought it would be. I had just written a review of Captain Atom #5 for the site that will likely never be published (and I spent three hours doing it). I never even got to see my pseudonym “up in lights,” as it were (though that shouldn’t really matter, anyway). But the hardest part for me is walking away from something that has brought me joy–and no small measure of escape–over the last 23 years. My wife has graciously suggested that I buy just a couple of digital titles, and indeed, I may be able to accomodate a small purchase in my budget.
It won’t be the same. And yet, though the decision has been difficult, I do not regret it; I would give up far more than this for my God and my family. So, friends, I bid you “adieu,” as this will be the final post on this blog. I will leave it active for only a while longer, and then I will close its doors for good. I have enjoyed reading comics and talking about them with you. Thanks so much for taking the time to read the opinions of this nobody from nowhere; the time you spent reading and conversing with me means more than you will ever know.
Thanks again, and keep reading, true believers.
I am sorry to hear you will not be able to enjoy your hobby anymore, but very happy that you will have another family member with which to spend time. I can tell from the brief time I have spent reading your blogs that you are not the type of person to see this as a burden, but the blessing that it is. As the Bible verse goes, when I was a child…
I am curious, however, about what you said pertaining to the position as writer for the web site. Would that not pay enough money on the side to merit purchasing a few comics each week? Just an interesting thought. Also, since your budget seems to be so tight, you may want to look at something in literature/editing/writing on the side to make some extra money to pay the other bills regardless of the comic book habit. My buddy is a youth pastor and has an English teacher as a wife, so I know how hard it can be at times. I guess you have to weigh how much time you can spend away from your family against how much you can adjust your lifestyle to make things work. Just a thought. You seem to love writing and you are really good at it. Good luck.
Robert,
Thank you so much for your kind remarks. 1 Corinthians 13 is one of my favorite chapters in the Scriptures, and verse 11 (to which you alluded above) is among my favorite verses. So thanks for the reminder!
I am indeed blessed, and grateful to God for He has so graciously provided for me. Though I will miss reading my normal slate of books, I will adjust to the new status quo soon enough. More importantly, I will be able to provide more opportunities for my children to grow in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
The writing position to which I was referring was a volunteer position, a fact of which I was well aware before I accepted it. The guys who run the site are fantastic, and made everything clear right up front; they expressed a hope that they would be able to pay their writers sooner rather than later, but there was no question that it was a volunteer assignment. I took it primarily because I enjoy comics and because I enjoy writing. I would love to continue with the latter in some capacity, even if the former has to be shelved for a while. Thanks for the suggestion!
Again, I thank you for your compliments. In looking at our budget, my wife has offered the option of a small comics purchase each month, and I will likely take her up on it. With regard to writing, well…I may have to limit that to the occasional user review on one of the more established sites. I’m just not sure I’ll have the time to maintain this blog. Thank you for reading, and for your encouragement!