I won't be reading your blog anymore.
I have read, and watched, and pondered, and prayed. Prayed hard. For the last year or so, something hasn't been right. It's kind of been like eating something that had a generally good taste, but something in it just wasn't right. You know...you just can't put your finger on it?
So I continued to read. Watch. Ponder. Pray. Pray hard. Little by little the light began to shine. Call it spiritual discernment. Call it intuition. Call it Holy Ghost enlightening. Whatever it's called, I got it.
You could probably care less about me reading your blog. You have thousands of followers, tribes, and friends. One little ole me won't matter a hoot to you, and that's okay. But I feel the need to give you an explanation. I'm usually a cut and run kind of gal, but not this time. I feel that too much is at stake.
I started blogging eight years ago. At that time, people would say, "What's a blog"?
Enter Blogomania!
According to Wikipedia, in 2011 there were over 156 million public blogs in existence.
What has followed, has become that "something's not right" taste in my mouth.
Sister blogger. Your readers are watching you. They are reading you. They want to be like you. They want to write like you. They copy your writing style. They start groups like you do. They admire, revere, imitate, and secretly envy you for your success.
I've been there. I've done it. I secretly wanted to be Beth Moore for years. Thank you, sweet baby Jesus, for delivering me from that one! If He had wanted two of her, He would have made her twins.
Do you understand the immense responsibility that is on your shoulders when you hit that "PUBLISH" button every day? You have been given much, and much will be required of you.
I admire your attempts to let your readers know that they are not alone. Not alone in sickness, in dire financial straits, in the throws of diapers and bottles and messes made by little ones hanging on skirts all day, every day. Not alone in depression, marital struggles, sinful behavior, and workplace madness.
It helps to know that the feelings we have are not particular to our own sinful selves, but that many share those very same feelings. We need community. We need to know that we are not alone. But sometimes it seems that the blogs are doing their job in that regard, all the while leaving the most important thing hanging on the clothesline, flapping in the breeze.
The Blogosphere~The place where misery loves company.
It's an epidemic.
One is feeling tired and overwhelmed, so she reads multiple times a day about being tired and overwhelmed.
One is struggling financially, so she reads blog after blog about being in debt.
One is sick, so she reads blog after blog about pain.
Hey! Thank you for telling me that you're sick too. But please point me to the Healer.
Thank you for telling me that you're struggling financially, just like me. But please point me to the One who promises to supply all of my needs.
Thank you for telling me that you're tired too. Tired of bottles and diapers and messes, and meals and little ones hanging on skirts all day, every day. But please point me to the One Who says, "Come to ME and I will give you rest."
Point me to a Book. God-breathed. Living and active. Point me to my Bible, not another blog post.
When the housework is done. When the babes are napping. When the sun is going down and the house is quieting.
POINT. ME. TO. THAT. BOOK.
Thank you for telling me that you struggle with anxiety and depression too. But please point me to the One who says that if I keep my mind staid on HIM, I will be kept in perfect peace.
Thank you for telling me that your marriage is a struggle some days. But please point me to the One who in His Word spells out the EXACT instructions for a healthy marriage.
Thank you for telling me that you sin. Just like me. But point me to the Cross. To the One who died for my sins and who has, will, and always does, deliver me and lift me out of pits, out of mud and mire. The One who sets my feet on solid, firm rock.
The ONE who I can't explain how He does it, but He does it!
Because, sister blogger, someone hangs on your every word today. That's evident by the numbers in your stats. That's evident in your book sales. That's evident by the figures in your bank account.
They want the numbers. They want the book deals. They want the TV interviews. They want the growing bank accounts.
They want to be like you.
Oh! Please, sister blogger.
Tell them to want to be like Christ.
"Imitate God, since you are the children he loves." (Ephesians 5:1 GWT)
That's why I won't be reading your blog anymore. I will keep reading those blogging sisters who point me to Jesus. Those who have encouraged me, loved on me, made me laugh and cry, but always, always, always, pointed me to Jesus. My only hope. The One who will take me out of my misery, not feed it. The One who speaks His love words to my heart anytime I need them through the pages of His Word.
So if you don't see me commenting anymore, you'll know.
You probably don't care.
But I won't be reading your blog anymore.
