If you are reading this, well then you read blogs. Chances are you probably write one, or have, or will. We all love our faith, no doubt about it. We all think we have something important to say about it too, and many of us do. But few of us will ever grow up to be superstar priests with our own blog, book deal, worldwide apostolate and DVD series. Few of us will sign a deal to write a weekly column for an online portal or be a regular paid contributor in some widely read magazine or newspaper. Some of us wont care, and some of us will, but the fact remains for most of us that blogging is a hobby in the least and a spiritual outlet in the best case.
In the past few weeks a ton of Catholic books, written by Catholic writer-bloggers have come out or announced their release date. At the same time, a major Catholic portal has announced several new additions to their rosters. Add to this the scandals of celebrity priests, the addition of several podcasts to the landscape, and the new projects popping up each day around the blogosphere and one can start to believe that just about everyone but they themselves are getting asked to “write for profit.” That isn’t the case, but blogging can definitely play with your ego and with your confidence.
We all have our favorite blogs and bloggers and we all have people that we admire, in terms of what they say and how they say it. Occasionally I will read a blog or a post and think, “Wow, that sounds like something I would say, only 13675 times better than I ever could! Maybe I should quit blogging and quit cluttering the blogosphere.” But then, why did I start blogging or reading in the first place? Was it to get a million readers? Was it for a book deal? Was it to become fabulously wealthy?
Or maybe you only read blogs, and your favorite blog has changed or started writing about things that dont really interest you? Maybe in a really bad scenario a blog that was bringing you closer to God is now taking you in the wrong direction? Does that mean that blogging is bad, or that we should give up? Probably not.
So what about us? What about the daily Catholic blogger that prays and toils over a simple little blog post? What about us, the blogger that puts their heart and soul into everything they write, and is so excited because their stat counter hits 12 for the day, up 4 readers from yesterday? Well to you I say, you are the most important writer out there. Don’t believe me? Ask those 12 people. Go ahead, ask them. No wait, don’t. Instead, ask that one that visits you everyday. Sure, we might not know who they are, but have a conversation in their head. Ask them why they even bother visiting your simpleton little blog when they could be over at Father X’s blog or the Cantankerous Catholic reading something profound. I know some of you  are thinking this because I’ve had the conversation with more than one person. I’ve thought it myself, these 12 people are wasting their time.
But they aren’t.
We all walk different paths. What touches us, might just touch someone else. We would never treat friendship in our daily lives the way we treat blogging would we? Would we say our friendship with one or two isn’t worth it because well, so-and-so has 50 friends? No, we cherish what we have, and realize that some of us are called to be certain things that might not necessarily be what we want or think is “best” but is surely what God thinks is best for us.
Some of my favorite blogs have a tiny following. In fact, I like it that way because it means that what they are saying touches me, and comes from the heart. They aren’t worried about what they are saying, or to whom they are saying it. Instead they focus on the message and not the method or the means. I often talk with various people about the Catholic faith and can hear in their statements ideas that I have read on different blogs, or sometimes even word for word or thought for thought arguments about certain topics. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I sometimes wonder if we aren’t pinning our backs to the souls of others in a somewhat dangerous way.
We don’t get to Heaven, or out of Purgatory faster based on how many Google Followers we have, so it shouldn’t matter. But what might matter is how your writing speaks to another, or what you say and how you say it. Remember, God left the 99 and went after the 1. Do the same, realize your calling. So, in other words, your 12 followers read what you say because it is important to them, so make it important to you. Look, blogging isn’t going to save the entire world, but it might save a soul or two. It also might grow your own, so do it in a responsible way, and do it for a right reason.
So what about us? Well, we are what make the blogosphere. We are the names at the end of the credits on a movie that no one even stays to watch, but make the movie happen. If God knows each of us by name, he knows each of our posts by heart. So when you write… write with passion, with love, and with a Christo-centric heart. And don’t worry about who is writing for who, or how many followers they have. If you have but one… that is one more than the devil wants, and one more than God needs. So don’t lose sight of what is important, and don’t stop doing what your heart prompts.
21 thoughts on “What About Us?”
Aw so good. I found myself nodding along the entire time. I won’t deny that I would love to be paid to write or talk about interfaith marriages, but you’re correct, right now I’m excited when I realize that more people I don’t know have read my blog than people I do know. I like how you compared blogging to having friends, that’s a great way to think about it and keep a person humble!
“Occasionally I will read a blog or a post and think, “Wow, that sounds like something I would say, only 13675 times better than I ever could! Maybe I should quit blogging and quit cluttering the blogosphere.””
I have this though *at least* once a day (and usually more than once).
Yep, it’s a huge temptation to envy and pride. I thought it was great to have the opportunity to be here on Virtuouspla.net and then of course patheos becomes the next big thing. Then there’s always the Register…but really there is so much good that comes from the simple. I consider myself to have a very simple blogging style: I say what I happen to be thinking…it’s a flow of thought. It’s not a well thought out post most of the time, and for me those are the best blogs to read (as long as they aren’t too ranty). This is why I’ve separated my blogs. One is for when I have thoughts that have to do with my spiritual and personal life (which some people enjoy reading) and the other for snarky, ranty pseudo-political commentary (for those that like that). But I think in the end, I do both for myself more than anything. I need somewhere where I can write out my thoughts about my life and I also need to release the inner snark.
My favorite moment in blogging is when I realized that someone had stumbled on my blog from the czech republic after searching “American architectural theory”. You really never know on the Internet.
I read through the post a second time–so good, and so true! I’m with you in loving to read obscure blogs. One of the best parts is that someone with 12 followers is *much* more likely to engage and dialogue in the comment boxes.
I started reading one blog when it had less than ten followers and I would dialogue all the time with the author. But t quickly gained a massive following and now, understandably, the comment box exchanges are less consistent. That’s not bad, mind you, just a natural element of popular blogs.
Again, great post, Joseph!
Hence why I’ve decreased my blogging and gone into blogsite development to help other bloggers (who are much better writers than me) to get noticed.
Thanks for this. I got away from blogging when I had to make a sudden trip for my grandfather’s funeral. I think this is the inspiration I needed to get back with it.
Thank you!
Hear, hear! I love this. One of my favorite blogs belongs to my sister-in-law, and her quiet joy in just sharing her family’s life is really humbling! She has…oh, 5 followers? But we love her dearly, and what she gives is exactly what each of us needs. 🙂
Great post.
Brandon–that is only if the readers comment. Many don’t.
Bloggers love comments, they really do. The conversation is where it is at. I know for me, I miss the days of Chat rooms and the like. Anymore we speak in “Likes” and 140 character conversations.
Kayla: In a way, we are making friends, even if it isn’t the friendship we are used to, these online personalities are still leading each other to or away from Christ.
Brandon: I know the feeling. There are some blogs, that you almost wish you could keep a secret. But as the Pope has said, let our light shine and let the world see us and grow in its warmth and see in its light.
Nathaniel: Some of my favorite blog posts are the ones that list the search terms people used to find their blog!
Tito: You wouldn’t have bloggers without the blogs.
Amanda: You made this post worth it.
Jennifer: One of my favorite blogs isn’t “solely” a Catholic blog. Instead it is a blog about a life and a family, written by a Catholic. True faith I find is often lived and not spoken.
Ink: I agree, I wish more people would comment, and for some it is learning HOW and that it is IMPORTANT. Maybe someone can give some tips on how to encourage people to comment.
Great post! You speak to the heart of all of us minor Catholic bloggers.
Thanks, Joseph! Great reflection. You made me think of some of the more heartfelt passages from the Pope’s World Communications Day message from this year, like this one:
“Believers who bear witness to their most profound convictions greatly help prevent the web from becoming an instrument which depersonalizes people, attempts to manipulate them emotionally or allows those who are powerful to monopolize the opinions of others.”
Hence the value of every small tiny voice bearing witness to the Truth…
Really appreciated this post as well. (And all of the thoughtful comments!) I don’t have a blog of my own but have been feeling called to do some writing lately. Love this forum for exchanging ideas from so many!
I’ve found myself thinking this off and on a lot lately and yours was a timely reminder Joseph. But then you had to say it 13675 times better than I ever could! 🙂
In the end I write for me, and for that one person I imagine is sitting out there reading me too. What I say just might be what they, and even I, needed to hear right at that time.
Just as I needed to hear what you just said. Thank you.
Thanks Joseph, great post! This was just the encouragement I needed 🙂
Great post! Forget about the blog stats and write what’s on your heart. Good advice.
bookmarking……thanks for this! very well-said
I find myself considering writing a blog regularly, but I dont because the things that truly pull at my heart (which are my my current cases -I am a nurse specializing in Perinatal Loss / Miscarriage, stillbirth,newborn palliative care/hospice) are all profoundly confidential and should i even try, I would have to so severely edit myself that it would be profoundly difficult.
And yet I find myself so frustrated that the information I have in my head is stuff that young couples really need to know to deal with the actual reality in our culture (NOT what the media says) Did you know there are 50,000 naturally occuring infant deaths in our country every year? Ever seen a TV show on this? well neither have any of my patients.
And so I blog surf…trying to add helpful information where I think it will enlighten…ever wondering if my comments help or confound.
I’m definitely bookmarking this as well. Such a refreshing read. Thanks!
Thank you for the great article….. What a nice perspective on spiritual blogging….. And 12 followers-you are rich! 🙂
Whoops, messed up the code:
So what about us? What about the daily Catholic blogger that prays and toils over a simple little blog post? What about us, the blogger that puts their heart and soul into everything they write, and is so excited because their stat counter hits 12 for the day, up 4 readers from yesterday?
This is totally me – thanks for saying we’re important! 🙂