Blogging, for me, isn't so much about splaying my thoughts onto a page, spitting them into the wind, whether or not they stick to anything. Rather, it's an outlet for me to reach people that I would otherwise cower from in person.
I want my words to matter to you.
When I write about my family, I want you to laugh, cry, bristle in incredulity, take some thoughts to heart, and maybe even provide me with some constructive criticism and helpful aids. When I write about religion, I want my readers to read, process, and maybe even expand their belief system.
Again, I want to be relevant.
So, here's the question. Have I been? Has anything I have written since I began blogging in February, 2011 mattered at all to you? Do you look at religion differently? Are you more knowledgeable in biblical matters? Does agnosticism hold any value to you at all? How about family? Do you own your mistakes and your past and look ahead and love and enjoy what you currently have?
I'd love to know that I am not writing to the choir. While that sells ads, books, and the like, the true satisfaction for me would come from one person - yes, just one - telling me that I have changed their minds on something - even if it is simply that they like heavy beer now, rather than Coors Lite horse pee.
Love,
I. C.
I want my words to matter to you.
When I write about my family, I want you to laugh, cry, bristle in incredulity, take some thoughts to heart, and maybe even provide me with some constructive criticism and helpful aids. When I write about religion, I want my readers to read, process, and maybe even expand their belief system.
Again, I want to be relevant.
So, here's the question. Have I been? Has anything I have written since I began blogging in February, 2011 mattered at all to you? Do you look at religion differently? Are you more knowledgeable in biblical matters? Does agnosticism hold any value to you at all? How about family? Do you own your mistakes and your past and look ahead and love and enjoy what you currently have?
I'd love to know that I am not writing to the choir. While that sells ads, books, and the like, the true satisfaction for me would come from one person - yes, just one - telling me that I have changed their minds on something - even if it is simply that they like heavy beer now, rather than Coors Lite horse pee.
Love,
I. C.
Your writing has convinced me that there is actually a Goddess, and she is incarnate, and she lives in the Midwest where her high priest worships her and tries to convert others to her cult.
ReplyDeleteThat was awesome, Sierra.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Sierra. I'm in awe of how completely you adore your wife and wish I had a little more of that in my life! How does Kristine feel about being known on the internet as the "smokin' hot wife"? Cuz we think it's great.
ReplyDeleteI think it scares her. She is a bit afraid to meet people in person that I know online because she assumes they have a goddess-like view of her. As much as I worship her in that way, I think I balance it out well with a love for her regardless of her faults. Thus, even if people in the real world are appalled at who she is, they can still wonder at how much I am devoted to her.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, if this is all that people have gotten out of my writings, I think it might be a good thing. It's great to show that a godless individual can still love his spouse. It sort of takes away the whole lack of morality argument.
This is a very good thing to get out of a blog!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are fishing, trying to see how many people you have turned away from God. Are you going to keep a tally? What would you do if one day one of your kids decided to have faith in God? Would you try and logic them out of it or would you let them have their faith?
ReplyDeleteNot fishing for that at all. Not remotely. Read it again.
DeleteAnd to answer your question, I would treat them as I treat anyone. We would enjoy the debate.
If that time comes, I hope for your kids sake that you will just accept their faith and not try and debate them out of it. I'm only saying that because I know what it is like to try and be yourself with a father with strong opinions. Which is even harder when one is not a good debater or communicator. Besides what's the down side of them believing in God...they go to heaven, if there is one?
DeleteAh. Pascal's Wager. While there are many downsides to believing in god, the theology of heaven and hell being one of them, I fully intend to only debate if they are into it. But, frankly, as with everything in my life, all my theories of what should be usually crumbles into what is known as the realities and the messes of life when it really starts to happen. Thus, I may debate strongly or I might accept. It also depends on the person's personality.
DeleteFrankly, I might be a dick about it and piss them off. In fact, that is more than likely what my personality will gravitate toward. And for that, I have my wife Kristine. She will have none of that. She is your ally in this matter for the kids and against me.
Have you changed my mind? No. But you've made me think. A lot. You've deepened my faith, but made it more thoughtful. And that's always good. My faith doesn't require that you share it, nor that you burn in hell. It requires that I demonstrate Jesus' love to others and by your posts (and things my son and DIL, both of whom are aethestic tell me), helps me how to love them as Jesus would, and save the judgment for Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThat's not an easy line to toe, and it pretty much flies in the face of all the Scripture on evangelism, but I'm not one whose gift is in preaching with my words. I have to let my actions speak for me, so your posts DO help.
I'm not sure that's a helpful answer to you, but it's hard to answer you through action on the internet :) And now you know why I don't have the gift of words :)
Believe me when I say this jzygail, your words have made my decade.
DeleteThank you.
Your posts about your struggling with getting to kno your kids and love them a bit more unconditionally :P have been a huge hit with me but in general you and many others are my magic mirror into the unknown territory of fundiland with your stories of leaving and your critics to the system. I 've always being an atheist so you haven't changed that XP
ReplyDeleteYou have definetly helped me believe in humanity a little more. And helped me learn to laugh at a lot of my fears. And your fathers day post and other writings on fertility have helped me so much as I have struggled to realize my worth outside of baby producing. And you remind me that people can have a bunch of kids and still be awesome.
ReplyDeleteI always love reading your blog, no matter what your posts are about. I really do appreciate the religious posts, even though I haven't stepped away from my faith. My faith looks different from what it did years ago and I thank you and Lewis for giving me a new perspective and helping me to develop intention in everything I do and think about. :)
ReplyDeleteYesterday I stumbled upon this blog, I think it was an email link rec.'d from Michael Moore.???? I have yet to figure the connection. My experience so far is likened to a great book you just can't bear to put down. I'm a recluse and when I do find myself in the "real" world I find it discouraging to say the least and reading these stories so far has given me hope. Thank you for reminding me that sanity, honesty, humor & straight-talking folks still exist.
ReplyDelete