I started blogging around the middle of 2006 so it's been a couple of years. I have to admit there have been times I've thought of packing it up but just knowing that I'll disappoint the mass of readers out there (all three of you) has kept me going.
So here are the five ways blogging has changed my life
1. Through blogging, I've met some really great people, and their interaction with me has truly enriched my life and I'm grateful for it. Wonderful folks like Marcus Goodyear, LL Barkat, Ted Gossard, Susan/Halfmom, Craver, and many more.
2. I have less time because of blogging... although recently, I've simply blogged less frequently. I started by blogging every other day, then three times a week and eventually twice a week. Although I've been told it's really only 1.5 times/week since one of the posts is a "quote of the week" which is kind of cheating. I guess.
3. Even though I've spent my entire professional career in high tech, blogging offered an entry point to learn about new web 2.0 technologies. It's kept me on the cutting edge of what's going on in technology with wikis, facebook, twitter, etc... Let me digress and tell you why it's so important for a high tech professional like me. [Warning - boring high tech blurb coming].
The way technology is created and adopted has changed over the past 10 years. It used to be that really complex technology was developed for big business and then it filters down to smaller businesses and eventually the consumer market - think email, accounting software, fax machines, laptops. But that's not how it works now - the flow of technology innovation and adoption is actually in the opposite direction. Technologies like IM, blogs, Skype were built for, and adopted by, consumers and then migrated to the corporate environment. Fascinating, isn't it?
4. I've learned to appreciate my church and family more. When you traverse the "Christian" blogosphere, you realize something pretty quickly - there are a lot of unhappy people out there. They are unhappy with the church they attend, their pastors, friends, family and even God. It's made me appreciate just how good I have it. I love the Internet but for everything wonderful you can do through the Internet, there's a ton of stuff that you cannot do. There are limits to technology and those serve to remind us that God builds His church through living, breathing, touching, hugging, non-virtual, communities.
5. Blogging has permitted me to scratch a writing itch. Apart from the couple of technology books I've written in my past, I'm really not a professional writer. I just like writing... the way some people love to paint or sketch. And if God's wired you that way, you feel compelled to write. Writing on a consistent basis also serves to clarify and organize my thoughts on certain matters concerning the gospel and how it's applied in our lives.
4 comments:
Thanks for all you share here, ESI. It's been fun and good getting to know you through blogging, though I agree there's nothing like face to face. At the same time words can be underestimated as to their effect and potential, for good (or ill, for that matter).
Me too, on the writing bit. I do appreciate how much you say in your postings, in so few words. A good model for me, one I think I'm getting better at perhaps.
Glad you still do it!
Oh ESI - that was so sweet - thank you so much!!! It has been a great joy to get to know you too - and even if there are only 3 of us (which I highly doubt), I, for one, am very grateful for what you write and how you draw me back always to remembering that what I do, each and every moment of each and every day, need to be done for Christ! (Plus, you never seem to mind my long, runon sentences)
Ted, Susan - it's been good getting to know you through blogging. Thanks for being so kind to stop by with your comments on a regular basis
Actually, I DID like the bit about technology. It's a good point and one I haven't really seen much (I think one other responder spoke of this, but not with the same depth.)
Oh, and I think you may not have broken the rules, since the rules included the option of breaking the rules. : )
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