This Is Exactly Why I Do Not Blog

In the immortal words of Sally Field, “I can’t deny the fact that You Like Me right now! You Like Me!”

Or at least, according to WordPress.com, you like me. They even gave me a badge to prove it.

Yay me… er…you!

I’m laughing, because don’t you think it’s kind of silly?

What does this award mean, exactly? Is the worth of my blog and/or my self based on how many “likes” I receive? If I never received any “likes” would that mean my blog and/or my self is worth less? I’ve always felt the true reward of my blogging is the actual blogging itself, not the measure of its popularity. The same holds true for any of our social media interactions. We are so often in danger of equating our self worth with how much attention – pro or con – we receive.

We all know popularity is addictive, and the “Glenda syndrome” is alive and well.

Take Facebook, for example. Call me crazy, but shouldn’t the reward of friendship be the actual friendship itself, and not how many “friends” we gather? Sadly, I have known people who feel less about themselves because they have “less” friends on their page. To those, I would say, “What is really more important to you, quantity or quality?”

We humans are such odd little creatures.

For what it’s worth, THANK YOU.

Thank you for LIKING ME.

It’s always nice to receive a little validation. In this case, I’ve been validated that something I thought about, wrote down and shared with the world was considered of worth to you.

It’s humbling, and I’m actually kind of amazed that you took the time to read my rambles. I also really appreciate that you often not only read but take the time to give feedback – whether it’s a “like”, a subscription, a “follow”, or (especially) a comment.

 But, that’s not why I blog.

IN THE BEGINNING

It all started with a strange dream in early November 2007. My dream may or may not have involved a real voice – although, I’m pretty sure it was James Earl Jones – dramatically saying “if you build it they will come”. When I woke up, somehow I knew that “it” meant a blog. True story. Which of course was all very preposterous because I only had a very vague idea of what “a blog” even was. Remember, we’re talking over 7 years ago – back in the paleolithic days when blogging wasn’t considered a popular or ‘legitimate’ pastime, and being referred to as “a blogger” was usually invoked as a derogatory slight. Being a blogger meant being the illegitimate child of the writing world. (ah, those were the days!) To be honest, up to that point I had never read a blog, and I didn’t know any bloggers, so I certainly didn’t know how to “build” one (as evidenced later with my ‘Great Blog Creation Catastrophe of 2008’). I pushed the whole funny idea way into the back corner of my mind and went on with life. But, just like Inception, the seed was planted and sprouting inside my brain. I was in the final stages of auditioning for the Tabernacle Choir and served as a teacher to a Young Women’s class at church (14-15 year old girls). Each Sunday the girls and I would stand and recite the Young Women’s Theme, which is a beautiful motto to live by, and includes these words:

“We will stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places”

One Sunday it finally hit me. “ALL places” definitely included the internet. God wanted me to stand as His witness everywhere, and how better to reach everywhere than by standing on the World Wide Web?

And so [after much pain and duress] my blog was born, and here I am, still “standing on the world”, so to speak.

In a very real way this blog was born out of my great love for God, my Savior Jesus Christ and the joy his gospel brings into my life. I want to share that joy with everyone! But, since I can’t possibly meet everyone, I hope that by “standing here” I am providing someone – you – some goodness. I wish to add a little more light into the world. Because, as we all know, there’s plenty enough bad, dark and dirty. My commitment remains the same today as it did 7 years ago – this blog is a safe haven and a place of peace, and I strive to follow Paul’s admonition:

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29).

As far as I’m concerned – the BEST way to “minister grace unto the hearers” is through good music.  That’s why I spend such an inordinate amount of time in my life creating and sharing a LOT of good music – whether it’s with the Choir, my family, or on my blog. To paraphrase Sally, “I can’t deny the fact that music really gives my faith wings!”, and that’s something I stand on. – MoSop

STANDING ON THE PROMISES