As you can imagine, this has been an incredibly difficult decision, for the Daily has been my constant companion for close to 29 years. I have poured my heart and soul into this undertaking, so stepping back is a really big deal for me. I have told, in four devotionals, the story of how it developed: What God Has Prepared, Death Of A Vision, Bread On The Waters, and All One Body.

What has led me to this decision? As I have now passed my 80th birthday, I am finding that my daily activities and chores, together with my wife’s health concerns, are taking longer and longer. It’s just time!

I used to pray that God would send along someone to take up the vision of PresbyCan. But more recently, I have realized that someone else would undoubtedly take a completely different approach, using MailChimp or Constant Contact and majoring in social media, like Matthew Ruttan does with the “Up!” devotional. Check it out! For example, I invented our emailing and subscription system in 1997, and the updated technology does not fit with PresbyCan.

I find it amazing how God leads and guides us. In the three weeks between that announcement and the last new devotional, my thinking evolved full-circle in regard to my plan to turn Daily into a low-maintenance website. I had originally thought of ending the daily emails and presenting ten random devotionals on the home web page. But my son suggested presenting automatically each day a pre-selected set of devotionals from either that date or the special day in previous years, so that, for example, on Easter Day, Easter devotionals would appear. Around the times of special days, the dates of selected devotionals vary, especially in the spring, when the date of Easter varies so widely.

I had also announced, however, that we were going to continue the PrayerLine feature, because it is the most-visited page on our website. One evening, a reader emailed to ask whether the PrayerLine requests could continue to go out automatically in a daily email. It was only then that I realized that such an email could also automatically contain a selection of devotionals just like the website. So, the daily emails continue! The key words are “automatic” and “low-maintenance”, which mean that I will be able to watch over the website — from a distance! My responsibilities were getting too heavy. It was just time!

There are a few thoughts that I would like to share with you as we close this chapter of life. Firstly, we have no idea of what effects may result from the actions that we do in obedience to the Lord. Undoubtedly, the devotionals were read by thousands more than just the people who read them by email, on the website, forwarded by friends, or as “likes” on Facebook. We also have very little or no idea how the written word influenced the spiritual lives of those who read it. What a great day it will be when the Lord finally reveals what our efforts have contributed to fulfilling His plan for His people!

Secondly, I want to encourage every Christian to bend every effort as an obedient disciple to do what the Lord desires us to do. May we all look forward, as I do, to the possibility of hearing those amazing words that the Lord spoke first to His disciples in a parable: “Well done, good and faithful servant! … Enter into the joy of your Lord.” (NKJV)

Over the years, our devotional website has undergone numerous changes in format, with new features introduced along the way, all the while attempting to keep up with changing technologies. I especially want to thank our dedicated volunteer staff team for your continued faithful volunteer labours, without which the enterprise would not have been possible. Jane Anne Waller was the first to come on staff to help with the subscriptions and feedback. James T. Hurd has been my backup for reviewing theology and proper editing. Mary Jane Hanson, Elaine Ingalls Hogg, and Sharon Cook have assisted in receiving and processing devotionals. Garnet Schenck and George Myers have moderated the PrayerLine requests, and Terry Folster has posted devotionals to Facebook each day. Thank you, all! You have all worked diligently behind the scenes to ensure that God’s Word has been shared daily with our thousands of e-mail subscribers. I would also like to thank our dedicated writers – over 500 of you since the beginning. Without you, there would have been no devotionals at all!

I would also like to thank my wife, Evelyn, and our children for the uncountable hours that you gave me away from you, and for your support over all those years.

To you, dear reader, thank you for sticking with us. Although we may not have met in person, I look forward to seeing you in heaven!

Robin Ross rross@telus.net