Why a blog?

When doing my usual morning internet surfing, I came across a question someone was pondering over…namely, “What is the real purpose of an internet blog?” In this day and age where seemingly everyone and his in-laws are launching weblogs left and right across cyberspace, that is a very pertinent question.

To put it simply, I would imagine that there are as many answers to that question as there are blogs. Unlike what some may think though, I can’t presume to speak for everyone else in the blogosphere…so in order to be of some help, I’ll simply speak for myself here.

I chose to start a blog because I’m a person with a lot of thoughts and opinions on a lot of things…and seeing what other such people have done with their blogs, I felt the challenge to do it myself. And admittedly, because I am the sort of person who can tend toward longwindedness at times, this medium would allow me to express my thoughts as fully and completely as possible…without being subject to clearance, severe editing, or moderation.

In addition, some friends of mine who recognize those attributes of mine suggested that I do it, thinking it might be a useful exercise for me. And since I do write articles, it makes for good practice in that endeavor.

And…who knows? On the off chance that a thought or reflection of mine might actually bless someone and do them some good(a reach, I know, but follow me here), then that makes it all worthwhile. As the song “If I Can Help Somebody” says…

“If I can help somebody

as I pass along,

Then my living

will not be in vain.”

Do I think that my thoughts and opinions are THAT important or normative for other people that they should hang on my every word? Of course not! As syndicated talk radio host Bruce Williams has said more than once, “All I’ve ever claimed to be is the world’s leading expert on my own opinion!” My thoughts are subject to those very limitations…I HAVE been wrong, and I will be again! But I think I’ve been right as well(a couple of times anyway)…and at least it’s a chance for my thoughts to be heard and judged in the impartial court of cyberspace, and evaluated in a relatively objective basis in the eyes and ears of my fellow pilgrim travelers on this earth.

Have my thoughts been appreciated? Well, I’ve been told as such(by a few people anyway)…and for that, I’m grateful to God.

Have they been criticized? Oh, yes…rather severely in some places, in fact. But that comes with the territory, and one expecting to do the same thing on a blog of their own needs to be aware that those things will happen…and must be prepared to take the majority of it in as smooth a stride as possible. This is another thing I need to learn to do better in my life, and this blog is a good place to practice on that, too. After all, when the time comes that I have to take a stand on something REALLY important(far beyond my meager thoughts on gospel music or some personal concerns), I need to be able to respond in the proper way then.

So in the words of Thomas Merton, “If you never want to write something that can be criticized, never write anything that can be read.”

So my blog is here…for edification, for revulsion, for blessing, for fodder, for thought, and for target practice! I hope you will enjoy it(for the most part anyway), but if not, may it challenge you to make clearer thoughts of your own.

And so, I blog.

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