I Stopped Waiting Until The Last Minute To Read Blog Posts | Apology

From the ending of 2017 to the beginning of 2018, I experienced burn out. I was trying to constantly read every post of the bloggers I followed. Up until last year, I didn’t really have a method of staying up to date with bloggers that worked. 

Most of 2019, I would wait until the end of the month to catch up on what I missed. This resulted in hours of going through so many posts of bloggers. Some days were spent on only one person. I felt like if I wasn’t reading, then people would be upset. That my reflection of being a blogger who “unites the community” … would disappear. I felt guilty about it. 

I still had some attachments of, “I have to read their posts or people won’t read my blog.” A give and take, which honestly, the method becomes pretty shallow all too soon. What is meant to be encouragement becomes jaded with self-gain. 

Here is what I want to tell you. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what people think. I really need to not be so shallow. Everything has to be about Jesus. If I am reading the blog posts of others, then I need an attitude of Jesus.

I truly want to encourage others without self-attachment. 

For the last year, writing up community posts was becoming a drag. Not because of the time commitment, even though that would be my first excuse. Let’s be real. Honestly, it had to do with the state of my heart. Which was the funny thing… once I started reading, finding quotes, and adding posts of bloggers to the spotlights, I truly enjoyed it. It was just getting myself to that point which made everything else feel like it was “dragging”.

I’ve been a procrastinator since I was a little. I would find ways to optimize what I wanted to do versus what needed to get done. Within me is a stubbornness not to grow, and to keep things my way. I pray every day that I can challenge this stubbornness with the will of the Holy Spirit. 

How does this relate to blogging and reading posts? Regarding the community, I was reminded last month to truly appreciate the community. Not just to put the spotlight on people, but to be engaging and encouraging consistently. Reach out to others. 

I know some people think an online community is weak. It certainly has some limits, but it also has some amazing benefits. In the same way, I am to reach people in the church and connect outside the walls, I want to do that with other fellow believers in Christ, that includes the blogging community.

Being confined, to interaction on my blog alone, is not okay with me. (Every blogger is different. This is my personal conviction.) I know what it is like to appreciate the support, comments, and discussion on posts I write. I appreciate the encouragement and thought-provoking posts that many of you have provided. I had forgotten how God will weave the same theme through multiple people in the same week. I’ve missed it.

All of this is to say I am sorry for pushing your content away. For making you last minute. There are a handful of people who have been so kind and understanding, but you truly deserved better when it came to my interaction with your blog.

That being said, changes happen. I do not read as many people as I once did. I don’t read every post, for most people. I’m sure my lack of interaction will still be missed for some bloggers. Maybe some people will be upset.

When I read blog posts, I want to be engaging. God has used this experience to help me understand why some people fade from my own blog interaction, and while I miss it, I no longer take it personally as I once did. 

This past month, I’ve gotten back into visiting with others and it’s been a blessing. It’s not overbearing and I do not feel intimidated.

I’m still hoping to visit new bloggers and occasionally stop by others. Finding a healthy, but more importantly, godly balance is needed. In all that I do, I want to give glory to Him.

His church needs to stay connected. We can’t do it as one person, but if we all connected a little more with each other it would leave quite an impact. 🙂 

COMMENT BELOW:

How do you stay connected with the blogging community? Did you ever get burnt out reading? What do you do? 

Monthly Scripture- (NIV) Psalm 85:01, “You, LORD, showed favor to Your land; You restored the fortunes of Jacob.”

Community Prayer Requests | January ’20– Join us in requesting prayer, praying for each other and lifting each other up. 

Get To Know Me & My Blog

Believer Handbook

Second Blog: Peeking Beneath