In the couple years I’ve been blogging, a pattern seems to have developed. During the season of Lent, I tend to go into hiding somewhat, and because it might be confusing to those who don’t have full access to what’s going on in my mind and soul, I felt it only fair to explain.
Case in point on need to expound: yesterday a good friend asked if she should stay away, since I appear to be requiring space. I assured her she should do nothing differently, that I still need to be connected with my friends and that I will remain accessible. I’ve put my email address at the top of this blog to give those who feel inspired to comment on a post an option to reach out. I just won’t be going public with comments and blog conversations during Lent. And I’ll be refraining from commenting on other blogs too, though I’ll still read when I can.
I truly appreciate the blogging community. I just need to pull back a bit to ensure I’ll make adequate spaces to hear God, and to be here for my family and other obligations. Hopefully I’ll come back in April feeling refreshed and revived.
You see, this blogging world is such a natural place for those comfortable with the written word to gather. It’s mostly all good. In fact, it’s oftentimes wonderful. But just as the lure is there to come play a while, so is the constant temptation to linger a little too long.Like children on the back yard swing sets, we often don’t want to leave when we’re called inside for dinner.
I’ve read countless posts from other bloggers expressing similar struggles. Just this week, I caught one from new blogging pal Kate from Momopoly in her post, “Seeking Silence.” As I read her words, I felt as though I could have written them myself. She even ended with my favorite Scripture passage: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). Elizabeth from In the Heart of my Home also ruminated this week on Internet distractions.
What better time than Lent to slow down and listen better – to my own inner voice as well as all the things God has been trying to tell me; things that have not been able to penetrate the brain buzz the Internet tends to perpetuate? So I’m going to lay off Twitter and Facebook for starters. My blog flavor will change slightly, too. On Mondays, I’ll post shorts on family life. The other two days will have a faith lean through Easter: Wednesdays will ponder the “Whys” of faith, and Fridays will cover other random faith thoughts.
My Lenten blogging last year brought about wonderful fruits for me, and I hope to my readers as well. It gave me the courage to integrate my faith life into Peace Garden Mama. Because my faith is such an important aspect of what fuels me, it made sense that I would bring it more fully into my words here.
I hope, despite my quieter ways these next 40 days, you’ll hang with me. I’d love to see you here still when Easter rolls around, when Christ (and perhaps my spiritual life) will be resurrected and transformed.
Leave a Reply