Three Reasons I Blog

I was swapping messages with a friend after one of my recent posts here. He made a couple of comments I have heard before. One goes something like this: “I would love to blog but I’m not really a good writer.” My response to that one is nearly always the same…have you read what’s on the internet these days? That usually gets a chuckle in agreement. Another usually goes something like: “I wouldn’t have the first idea how to get started.” My response to that is almost always the same too: have you heard of Google?

Those are fun discussions but there was a different question that inspired this post. That question: why do I blog? It’s a good question and one I have actually given a considerable bit of thought to! I’ve had a blog since 2007 and have written hundreds of columns covering a variety of topics over the years. I like to think I’ve improved as a writer over those years both through the actual practice of writing blogs and from my education which frankly involved a whole lot of writing. So here goes!

I Enjoy Writing

Since I learned to read as a child, I have loved reading! I supposed I get that from my mother who to this day is a voracious reader (she loves Stephen King’s books…ALL of them!). The summer between 2^nd & 3^rd grade, my mom worked with me to ensure I know all of the Dolch word lists (yep, the nouns too!) and I still have the certificate in a scrapbook somewhere. My love of reading has never waned. Today I still have a stack of 5-6 books on my nightstand excluding three English translations of the Bible.

Writing always fascinated me and I had thoughts over the years about writing but always found reasons not to try. That is until the explosion of blogs years ago. With the ability to set up a simple blog for free, the reasons for not trying began to crumble. So, I started a blog and slowly began writing.  Those early efforts are quite forgettable but the biggest thing I learned that has kept me writing is the simple realization that some people would read what I have written. A few even graciously (or not so much so) take a few moments to share their own thoughts on the topic at hand which has helped me sharpen my own thinking while meeting some fascinating folks literally from around the world.

Truth be told, I enjoy writing academically and more casually. I actually enjoy the writing process, I enjoy the editing process, and I especially enjoy the dialog that sometimes results. I even enjoy going back and rereading some of those earlier posts and wondering what I was thinking at the time or rolling my eyes over how poorly written some of those posts were.

I Have Something I Can Share

My lived experience is unique, just like everyone else. I have been blessed to see some remarkable things in our nation and in a few places around the world (I still have so many places to visit and things to see!). My employment history is broad and diverse covering multiple industries in which some pretty amazing people invested in my growth professionally and as an individual. I can say the same about my education too!

Today, experience in varied areas such as commercial food service, commercial and residential construction, manufacturing, customer service, technology, facilities management, financial modeling and analysis, developing performance dashboards, budgeting, and so much more benefit me daily as I serve the Lord in the local church. Each of those experiences is a well I draw from regularly.

Along the way I have learned the importance of learning from others. There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9) but that doesn’t mean I have knowledge or experience in all things. C. S Lewis once said, “Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” I have learned vicariously and I have learned through my own lived experience. The point is I have learned a great deal that I can share.

Others May Benefit

Why go to all the trouble? Why write something on any given topic and share it in such a public way? Critics abound and, in our day in particular, there seems to be a lack of constructiveness to much of the criticism we see online. For me, I am reminded of those who were generous towards me with their time and their own experience when God crossed our paths. So many others I know in ministry have similar stories of being poured into by others to help them along.

I want to invest in others like some of my mentors and heroes of the faith have modeled for me. There is much more than one’s finances to being generous. I also want to be generous with my time and the experiences God has providentially blessed me with to try and be a benefit for others.

What are you doing to help others along their journey? Who are you investing in? Leave a comment and let’s have a conversation!

Blessings,

Chris