To Everything There is a Season

For a couple of years now I've been seeing our Gomer family slowly slide off the radar. Interest has certainly fallen off since our heyday of 2002-2006. Used to be, I'd see 20-100+ Gomer shirts at any Third Day show. I could pick them out all along the front row, in the floor seats, and all the way up to the rafters. But now, there may be one or two at a show. Used to be, when I was introduced as "Mama Gomer" people would know instantly that that meant I was the mama to the Third Day fan family. They would say, "Oh! I'm a Gomer, too!" Now people look quizzically at me and say, "Okaaaayyyy" sort of wondering if they missed something in the conversation. Even TobyMac said to a group of Gomers recently, "Didn't ya'll used to be called the Gomers or something?" The Gomers seem to be fading.  

We started the Gomers in 2001, almost a year after Offerings: A Worship Album was released. Third Day was pretty well established, and just about to become the super-group they are today. We felt we should support them, and tell everyone about them. We felt we should help them along as much as was in our power. Not sure they actually needed any help, but we felt that need to do it. And we still do, but it has become so natural now, that we don't need to get a street team together, or try to get people to do promote Third Day. There are thousands of Third Day fans promoting the band every day, whether they try to or not. 

The other reason for starting the Gomers was that those of us who frequented the boards truly loved one another. I felt (or rather God nudged me) that we needed a name, an identity that would make us a family. So Gomer became our last name. We were bound by our love of God, Third Day, and each other. It started as the just board members and reached out to embrace Third Day fans everywhere.

But Gomers don't gather like they used to, not online and not in general "come one, come all" gatherings at concerts. One reason is that the old Third Day message boards, the home of the Gomers, were not as populous as they once were. Technology changes. People move on. A lot of people find it more fulfilling to spend their time on Twitter and Facebook where they can not only talk to their Gomer friends, but also keep up with family members, neighbors, church friends, kids away at college, and even long lost school friends. 

Once it really got going, I envisioned the Gomers becoming much like Jimmy Buffet's Parrot Heads. They not only meet for concerts; they also do amazing charity work world-wide. I prayed and tried, but always felt a halt in my spirit when I tried to move in that direction. I don't know why, but it's just not what God had in mind for us. I think we are what He wanted, a family who love and support each other and our band . . . His band.

But as I said, for the past couple of years, I've felt like the time for the Gomers was slowly winding down. Not that we all have to completely call it quits. There's still a remnant of us out there. We can still get together online, and still be happy that God gave us this amazing family. But we've been wearing the same shirt to Third Day concerts for going on ten years now. That's a long time, and no small life for a revolution of any kind. Not everything was meant to last forever. I think the Bible put it best in Ecclesiastes 3:1 

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

WIRED sort of replaced the Gomers. Third Day took the idea of the Gomers and tried to improve upon it and gave us WIRED. It not a community like the Gomers, but now everyone has a chance to hang out with the guys of Third Day. Since that was one of the goals of the Gomers, we love WIRED! But it seems like the time of the fan-run, CCM fan families is coming to an end. I think the paid band-sponsored fan clubs are replacing them. Some bands, like Skillet, have even adapted the fan-started family name into their paid fan clubs. So they live on, but in a different form, and with more benefits.

Tai Anderson and I had a long talk about the future of the Gomers after the Make A Difference Tour show in Austin, Texas, a couple of weeks ago. We talked about how the Gomers were dwindling in numbers and interest (not in Third Day, but in being Gomers). We talked about how it's time for the Gomers to evolve to the next incarnation of Third Day fans, and that would be Third Day Connect. (Maybe we can be "Connectors" now? ;-) )

The next morning, Tai blogged on the new Connect site, "Can Third Day Connect take the place of the Gomers?" He gave a nice nod to the Gomers and our history. In the last paragraph he says, "Our hope is that this new community can be our next step to foster Third Day online community. We've made great efforts to incorporate more content into the new ThirdDay.com, especially focused around live show content.  We hope that the new tools we've put into place here, with easy Facebook integration, the ability to see where other Third Day fans are, etc. will bring you along for the next part of this journey."

Everything grows and changes, and when it's time, steps aside for something better. This week, the "something better" has come along. Third Day's new website is amazing, full of fantastic free content, and has the brand new Third Day Connect online community which has everything a Third Day fan could ever want! This is the place where we can gather as a family, Gomer or not. I think it will bring back the spirit of the Gomers and of the old boards in its most populated time, when we were all so addicted to them and communicating with one another.

So old things pass away, new things take their place. That's the way life goes. We are living beings; we grow and change. Third Day fandom is growing and changing. I, for one, am not going to miss a thing! I'm excited about this next step. We're MOVE-ing on up! (Pun intended.)

Make a Difference Tour, Austin, Texas, October 8, 2010
Me in the middle. Probably the last time I'll wear
my Gomer shirt. 

Comments

[Corrine]

So what does this mean to us? Not really a whole lot, except that we won't be having another Great Gomer Gathering. You don't have to wear your Gomer shirt, or even orange, at Third Day concerts anymore. (I'll miss not having to wonder what to wear!) Gomer sites will probably slowly disappear. You don't have to call me Mama anymore, although you can if you want to. That's pretty much it. You can still be a Gomer, which now will mean you are an old-school Third Day fan. We'll still go to concerts together, still pray for and support Third Day in any way we can, still love them and each other. It's kind of like moving to a new house, starting a new life, which we are. We're still the same people, still love the same band, have all of our Gomer history, but it's a brand new day, and a new beginning for Third Day fans at Third Day Connect! If you haven't already, I hope you'll join us there. To borrow a phrase, "the best is yet to be!"

[Angelaarsenault]

Well, even thought I've been a Third Day fan since 1999, I wasn't exactly a Gomer for long - didn't even know about it until I found Third Day's stuff online this year! But, Corrine will always be "Mama Gomer" to me!

[Matt Hamilton]

How sad. I could see it coming though. It seems like the last few Third Day shows I had been too, I did not see any orange. We will still have to stick together. I'm so glad I got to see you several times, Mama.

[Angelaarsenault]

Though - not thought - typo!

[Matt Hamilton]

By the way, It was great getting to meet many other Gomers, not just Mama.

[Cindy Boo]

I still may be wearing my Gomer shirt to the concerts, ironically I am having another one customed designed!! Really was hoping for a Gomer Gathering, but it is what it is! Thanks for all you have done for us! Love ya Mama Gomer!!

[Angie (angelfan)]

I'm bringing my orange Gomer shirt on the cruise, Cindy. It's never been worn!

[Corrine]

We may not get to do an official one again, but anytime a bunch of us gather, like we just did in Texas, it's a Gomer gathering! The cruise surely will be an official gathering.

Can't wait to see a picture of your shirt, Cindy!

[Jeff Cooke]

I think the Gomers concept was a cool idea though based on an unfaithful character...lol. Whatever Third Day fans are called (I refer to us as 3Ders) I'll be glad to be so tagged. Changes leave good scars sometimes and I'm glad for this scar. The new site is awesome. I look forward to the present and future while appreciating the past.

[Rose Richter]

Gomers or no Gomers, I know Third Day will always appreciate all you do for them, just as we appreciate you, Corrine! You & Debbie are awesome!

I look forward to all the new things going on with Third Day, that's for sure!

[Terry (apostlethatroks)]

At the risk of sounding like the baby being thrown out with the bath water (which is the polar opposite of how I really feel) I do need to share a few thoughts:

(1) They will hafta bury me with my Gomer shirt(s) because they (the tees & the peeps) were/are too significant in my life to be ignored. (8^D)

(2) If you ever want me to stop calling you Mama (and Debbie, Auntie) then you'll need to file the appropriate legal documents. Be advised, I won't go quietly. (:-p)

(3) I will never (I repeat, NEVER) replace my 3D GOMER license plate. I am, however, willing to donate it to the Gomer Archive should one ever exist. (^_^)

"If you're still talking about yesterday, you haven't accomplished anything today..." Lou Holtz

[Cindy Boo]

Corrine! I WILL definetly post a pic of my "New" Gomer shirt after the Cruise & Yes all you other "gomers" going on the Cruise - Let's Make this a Gomer Gathering! Love you all!!!!

[Emsy]

Sad sad day, but I 'get it'. Love you all....& it's been a blessing to be a part of the Gomer family. It ain't over 'til it's over!! XX

[Evan J. Nee]

I am and always will be a Gomer... Sad stuff.

[Jinna Marbry]

Ain't given up the Gomer orange t-shirt...sorry:0) I'm even making one for my 8 yr old that wanted one...saying "Gomer in Training". So yes I may be the only one in good ol' Atlanta wearing it at the next Verizon (p.s. anytime Third Day wants to play the Fox again you have my blessing, awesome show!)fest but I wear it proud! Singlemom4Him Gomer is a forever proud Gomer:0)

[rossid]

Watching Chronology dvd, came across the commentary with Dave and Brad. Then Google Brad and come across the old discussion. Go to home page and here I am!

What a week - wore my old Gomer shirt to Davenport - then hear are all my friends - though none of us have met in person - yet.

Glad so hear from you all and now back to Inter-Bayern(soccer).

Big D

[Michelle]

First of all, thank you so much for all you have done! I wish I could have been more involved over the years so you would know that our family has appreciated all that has gone into making the Gomer family happen! We had to depend on dial-up for years and it really didn't like the Third Day website so we weren't on there as often as we would have liked. :o( 2nd of all, be encouraged. THE ORANGE is not fading! There's a new wave of 3D fans and they want orange shirts, too! I honestly believe the economy might have had something to do with Old School Gomers not being at concerts for a spell because we, along with others we know, had to stay home from Third Day concerts (though it killed us to pass them up) for financial reasons. I'm sure that's just one of several reasons for lack of orange at concerts. And I've wondered if the guys in the band ever get tired of the Gomers and their orange. At the last Meet n Greet we were at, as our orange-clad family was having our pic taken with the band, I heard Tai say, "Orange is representing tonight!" We're gonna carry on, we can't help ourselves and I think the new Gomer FB group may be just what the doctor ordered! ML, Zookeeper Gomer