Ok, so sometimes I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer...


I’ve been wrestling with blogging. For me, the decision was about whether I wrote something worth reading. I got some encouraging feedback from people. But I was worried that keeping up the quality was going to become too difficult to include with my other projects. I thought of blogging as a way for me to make a difference (albeit probably small difference).


I read how for some blogging was a spiritual discipline. I thought I understood what they were saying, but for me it was about sharing the thoughts and conversations I was having in my small circle of friends.


As I stare at the blank page for a new entry, I realize that the discipline of blogging can be the discipline of reflection. So, I don’t have anything to share today? Use blogging as a call to reflection. Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” Without a space between stimulus and response we are soulless beasts. Reflection creates that space. I can be a soulless beast for far too long.

In my more overly-dramatic moments I identify with Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde. There are times when I am Dr. Jeckle: thoughtful, rational, disciplined, civilized. Everything makes sense, faith is easy, I’m in touch with that the sky is blue and the sun is shining up above the storm clouds of my life (thank you for that image Anne Delke, that’ll preach). The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.


And the next thing I know several weeks have passed, I’ve indulged in a cycle of negatively reinforcing behavior, I’m getting desparate, and I’m crying out to God to save me from myself. What happened? Mr. Hyde woke up and carried me off? Well, I’d like to think that, but it was Dr. Jeckle who created the potion and drank it. I am not a victim, and I can use some help, like a spiritual discipline of reflection: blogging.


Woah, you mean I can blog for me. Now it gets interesting. Now it becomes worth committing to the time regularly to sit down and type something.
(Upon re-reading, this shows up to me as pretty selfish. Already I'm getting the benefits of blogging as reflection!)


So to anyone who is reading this, and all the potential people who could read this. Thanks for your (potential) participation. Your mere potential presence is helping me become more reflective, more examined, more soulful. Is helping me becoming.

- posted by Jor @ 11:15 PM -