Monday, August 06, 2007

Three!

Feeling slightly bored and random first thing this morning, I thought I’d have a look and see if that state of mind is a perennial August issue for me.
How was I feeling and what I was doing on 6th August last year?

So I discovered that it’s my birthday – or at least, my blog's birthday.

This, of course, set me thinking what I’m doing sustaining such a narcissistic exercise as a blog for 3 whole years.
After all, I’m not a great sustainer in many areas, but I seem to be intent on writing here, even when I have little to say.
In the beginning, this blog was a way of processing the countless new experiences of ministry, of thinking aloud (on the basis that I really don't know what I think until I hear what I say!) and recording some milestones too.
Then I began to make blog friends, some of them too far away to phone or visit.
I wanted to know what they were up to, what issues were concerning them, whether they’d read any good books lately – and my blog became a way of staying in touch and, as time went by, of meeting more and more wonderful new people. As the revgals webring developed, those connections became increasingly important and the delight of producing our two books gave fresh impetus to my blogging here as well.

As with preaching, I’m often surprised by the posts that draw the most comments. Sometimes I’ll present an idea that is really exciting me, only to find that nobody else even seems to notice. At others, a quick throw away reflection that I hesitate to post at all produces something quite close to a flood of comments…so I guess blogging is teaching me more about the unreliable nature of communication as well.

Would I still blog if I knew nobody was reading me?
I’m not certain.
I do journal (with a real pen on real paper, you know) though not as often as I used to in pre-blog days, and not with the same regularity that I waffle and witter here. I guess that for an extrovert a potential conversation will always be more attractive than secret thoughts whispered to the page. I definitely need to write though –it’s been part of my nature one way or another for long enough to be judged a non-negotiable fixture - so writing when there’s actually hope of a reader is a joy.
Another surprise pleasure of blogging has been the discovery that with a digital camera all sorts of things are possible. That really is sheer self indulgence,- but it’s MY blog so why not! I know the quality of both word and image is variable, - but surely the blog name gave that away from the word go.

Final thought…
I was tidying up my links recently and came across several blogs that are no more, because their owners are “too busy living life to blog it.” For me it works the opposite way. The more there is happening for me, the more I want to reflect on it…
I know that I have to be careful and remember that discretion is the better part of public blogging, particularly as I hatch from curate to priest-in-charge, when that change comes…but as long as my life continues to present me with the odd hint of God’s presence, or any even marginally engaging material, I guess I’m likely to keep on blogging it.

After all, if it weren't for the blog, I might not know you!
Thanks for reading thus far.
There’s chocolate cake over there on the table.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Blog.

I'm very glad you write here - long may you continue.

Anonymous said...

Would I still blog if I knew nobody was reading me?
I’m not certain.

lol

since we are here, since we read and since we love this place ... this really is a redundant question isn't it

Happy Birthday RevGal. I'm glad to have got to know you along the way

Karen Sapio said...

Oh, Happy Birthday Good in Parts! Many Happy Returns!

Sophia said...

I love your blog and I'm glad you keep adding to it!

I find your writing and the things you post to be deeply profound, and I'm going to use some of your non-traditional services and ideas later on in my own ministry.

:-)

Erin said...

I loved this line: "I guess that for an extrovert a potential conversation will always be more attractive than secret thoughts whispered to the page." I couldn't have said it better!

I enjoy your blog - happy anniversary!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday.

Hope there are many more to come. For some of us across the pond you've become a daily habit.

Theresa Coleman said...

Happy bloggy birthday!

Would I still blog if I knew nobody was reading? Probably... It's the writing not the reading. If that makes any sense.

Karen Sapio said...

By the way, where is the party and is there chocolate?? Champagne?

liz crumlish said...

Kathryn, Happy Blogging Birthday and keep on blogging - we need our fix!

Sue said...

happy blog birthday! Great cake, too :-)

Anonymous said...

Happy blog birthday! (though I'm a bit late getting here!).
I've so enjoyed reading all you've had to say, especially as I've served my curacy at the same time as you and have found it wonderful to 'hear' your thoughts and reflections on this life!

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

Hey Kathryn

i know what you mean - there was a time when i would write something and get no response and then i would post some random question kind of blog and get many. I remember a time i got quite obsessed with why etc....

so now i just blog what i feel and enjoy the dialogue from the comments that do appear. blogging became more about comments than posts for a while and that's not good....

i agree with liz, keep blogging - we need all the fixes we can get in a dry and parched land....

Jules said...

I'm a little late with this--sorry!

I have appreciated your blog so much. your writign is beautiful and thoughtful and often is exactly what I need to "hear".

Many happy returns!

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RevDrKate said...

Back from the yurt and reading in gulps to catch up. Happy birthday to your blog! So glad you did and do this thing. You capture so well many times exactly what I have NOT said...yet. I think of you as my soul sister across the pond. Write on!

Danny said...

Hi, enjoyed this birthday blogging post and coincidently this is also my birthday, although I am much older than your blog!!! I enjoyed the virtual cake, much less fattening than the real kind...