Thinking Out Loud on Blogging

My giveaway and the response to it has caused me to think a lot about blogging. My heart in having the giveaway and promoting it as I did was to give as many people as possible the opportunity to win a book that I have come to consider essential reading for every Christian. In addition, the reason bloggers have giveaways is to ascertain who is reading their blogs. Based on my experience here, I must conclude that not many people are actually reading this blog, and among those who are reading it, very few have taste in books similar to mine. I also know that some people are simply busy and can't be bothered. I understand that.

I have done a good bit of blogging over the past several years, and I have never been very successful at it. Success in the blogosphere is measured via comments, and even my most popular posts on my other blogs have rarely numbered comments in the double-digits. I didn't necessarily expect that here, but I must admit I am disappointed.

I imagine that some people think it is the height to arrogance for someone to write something down and assume that other people want to read it. People who think that way are clearly not writers. Writers write because they cannot help themselves, and if they feel they have written something entertaining or interesting or profound, they feel compelled to share it. It is like having a spiritual gift and being naturally motivated to use it. Those of us who are prophets and teachers as well as writers are even more inclined to share because that is inherent in our gifting. When we learn something from God, we want to tell others about it. We are excited and motivated, and we want others to share the experience. When people don't respond as we hope, it is disappointing.

I will admit that with my other blogs, I wrestled with aspirations of popularity. I promoted those blogs and worked to generate reciprocal comments. When I started this blog, I had no such ambitions. It was simply a way for me to communicate with and encourage my class members and to supplement what we cover on Sundays. I shared the fact that I was blogging again with others who I knew had read my other blogs and had responded positively to my past efforts. But beyond that, I simply posted as I was inspired to do so.

At some point, I allowed some of the feedback I received and my natural performance mentality to distract me from my original intent, and I started doing a little self-promotion, which led to the giveaway and the declaration that I would start blogging more regularly with more original content. I even presumed to ask for feedback. All of this was nearly totally ignored, with the exception of a few faithful friends who love me despite my faults and did not want me to be disappointed.

I don't know why I allowed myself to fall into this trap. If I've learned one thing in recent months, it is to "Be still and know that He is God." (Psalm 46:10) If God wants it to happen, it will happen. All I have to do is be obedient. And as far as this blog is concerned, obedience is posting as I feel inspired in an effort to encourage and edify my Sunday school class members. The next time I want to give away a book, I'll bring it to class and have a drawing there.