Into the Fire

While some people blog for fun, others blog to keep their long-distance families informed, still others want an outlet to rant or rave, and some want to share their knowledge, instruct, guide, or offer their experience and/or expertise in different areas. There are probably as many reasons for blogging as there are blogs—well, maybe not THAT many.

Anyway, whatever your reason is for blogging—and whether or not you do it under a clandestine pseudonym—in one way or another you have to be open. Because sooner or later you have to address something that is of importance or at least of interest to you, and when you do, you’re going to reveal something about yourself.

We all know the dangers of operating on the web. Identity theft, cyber stalkers, all real and possible dangers. Nevertheless, if you enter into blogging, you take a risk. And what you’re ultimately saying by doing so is that what you want to express is worth the risk of some exposure. And whether it is or isn’t is up to you.

I have said here and other places that for me this blog is therapeutic. It has given me the opportunity to think through my thoughts in written form, to address them in a rant or even in a whine and hopefully come out of it all hopeful. Writing through them much like praying through problems has led me to some amazing (to me) conclusions at times and has helped me understand some things about myself and about the business of writing.

I’ve been wonderfully blessed by those who’ve been extremely generous with time they really didn’t have to spare but chose to provide excellent and honest answers to my interview questions both for me and for whoever might stop by to share in their expertise as well as their personal opinions. Without this blog they really wouldn’t have had a reason to take the necessary time to provide the information we all like to know.

Some of you visit regularly, and I can’t tell you how affirming that is. My thoughts and opinions are generally strong, passionate, and probably have alienated some visitors. Although I regret that, I can’t apologize for feeling deeply and being open about how I feel or think or believe or know. I would not purposely offend someone—confrontational is not by best style. I’ve had to “stand down” a few times in my comments and offer apologies for incorrect assumptions or statements I’ve made on the blogs of others. It’s kind of nice to have my own “domain” here—and that’s not to say I want to make errors or wrong assumptions here. It’s just to say this is where I get to be me, such as I am.

Those of you who’ve become friends to me because of this blog, I want you to know how valuable you are to me. I’ve posted on being a friend, on being hurt by those I thought were friends, so you regulars know how serious I take friendship, be it with my known friends or my “unknown” friends. I want to be open and transparent, while keeping some things private as we all must. I want you to have a sense of trust when you comment or e-mail me—that you can count on me to care about you, to keep our communications between us unless permission is granted to share them. Just so you know . . .

Father, thank you for each and every one who visits this blog. I believe you can minister through some of it because I know some of the posts have been of your design, and I thank you for those especially. Please use it for your glory somehow, some way. And continue to bring new friends to this place. Help them to be open. Help me to continue to be open. Help me to continue to hear from you, to write what you instruct me to write, and to do my very best to honor you in the process. May I put obedience to you above all things. May I hear your voice above all others. Please, Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Reminder! Tomorrow (Friday, June 15th) my “friend” Robert Liparulo will be up in an interview. Please join us.