In re-evaluating the blogosphere, a friend relayed to me something she heard regarding blogs: if you're not blogging for your readers or for their benefit, perhaps it's time for a private journal. Not sure whether or not this should apply to me. As I ponder this, here is my train of thought in continuing to blog:
There's just something that keeps me accountable in knowing that someone will be reading/thinking about the words I write. Knowing that no one will ever see what I write makes it almost pointless for me to write. One of the ways I think through things -- the way I process deeper concepts -- is to think out loud. This sometimes means a one-sided conversation with Hubby where I just talk until things make sense; sometimes it means a blog rant where the point I intended to make fell by the wayside as a deeper intent rose to the top. It's not as helpful for me to simply write down my thoughts. I need feedback, or at the very least, the knowledge that my thoughts are heard.
Upon deeper thought, I wonder if this is a fear of man? A need for affirmation? An inability to think for myself? Or, perhaps it is as I hope... that when I know my thoughts and opinions will be heard, I am more likely to make an effort to solidify them so that I am not speaking merely to be heard. I don't want to write for myself only. I know Hubby loves to hear what's on my mind, and honestly my blogs and email rants are often conversation starters for us. If I write, I want it to be so that concepts I learn are embedded more deeply, so that should God choose to use me someone else might even learn from the things I am learning.
That said, my own personal blogging under this premise (this is not to judge or point fingers at other blogs -- to each his/her own) should probably exclude boring "Here's what I did today" ramblings, unless said ramblings are relevant to a lesson I am learning, or a concept I am processing/wrestling with. That's hard to avoid, because now that I look at it, those sorts of ramblings are inherently narcissistic in the hope that someone actually cares what I have to say. I'd prefer that people read my blogs, whatever I happen to be saying at the moment, because they honestly care about what's going on in my life, or because God is using me as a tool in shaping someone else's life (be it ever so subtly).
We shall see where this ends up.
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2 years ago
2 comments:
Sounds to me like your posts are for the benefit of others then - sharing what you're learning in hopes that it may edify and encourage others - while challenging you and holding you to accountability. Looking forward to reading your posts!
You're going to need to let me know when you update, because I don't have subscriptions to blogspots like I do xanga. Otherwise I won't know when you're posting. :-P
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