Dear J13.wetpaint.com-ers,

It has been an absolute joy for the last 4 months building this website. I started building this website when I stumbled upon it by God's grace at the beginning of Lent. It started off as a joke. J13 = Jesus's Gang. Little did I know that what I thought would be a joke would become this website. Now, it has blossomed into everything I had hoped it would be, a place where people can come for inspiration on the journey, especially when life and the cross gets difficult, as well as a medium for young adults to connect.

Unfortunately, I became obsessed with this website. It was the first thing I checked in the morning and the last thing I checked before I went to bed. I was always clicking on the what's new tab, [like seriously every 10 minutes] eying to see if anybody posted anything new. I would spend hours and hours and hours trying to make it better. And it was LOVE that motivated me to do so. But I've come to terms with the reality that everything has a limit.

Today I crossed the threshold of 700 page edits. That means, I've worked and re-worked, created and edited website pages here on j13.wetpaint.com 700 times. That's a lot. And I still have the desire to do more. And I feel that there is a lot more I can do and add to this website. But I have to take a break. Partly so that I can find new energies to pour into the website, and partly so that I may allow other people to help build this website as well.

It is my desire that all of you would take the reins and add content to this baby. Because, it is not only my baby. It is OUR baby. If this website, in any way shape or form helped you on your WALK with God, then I ask you to contribute and help build it up. PAY IT FORWARD by helping to add content to the website.

I made a deal with God that I would go on an EDITING/CREATIVE HIATUS with the website once I hit 700 total page edits here. And I really want to keep going. I had plans for a blog page (thanks to Sergio's suggestions) where I can talk about insights I learned from the day, maybe post up homilies, etc. But like with anything, especially things that are good, they have a tendency of taking over your life. And that's what happened with this website. Whenever things take over my life, I go on a fast. And thats what I am going to do for now. I am going to fast from the J13 website.

Don't worry I'll be back eventually. Even when people retire, they don't REALLY retire. They just take a break. Jay-Z, 50-Cent, Rocky, Indiana Jones...they just took a break.

I'll be back soon. In the meantime, I ask that YOU, dear reader, would take on the reins and update this WEBSITE, all for God's glory. If not, then all good. Anything that didn't have God in the center was meant to crash and burn anyway. And that's what I ultimately believe in.

Peace,
Fr. Francis

P.S. I think this counts as my first blog on here. Hahahahahaha. Sergio you win!!!
P.P.S. "The hardest part of holding on is letting it go." -- P.O.D. Goodbye For Now