I write my blog picturing my rector standing over my shoulder reading what I write. I have told him that I have a blog, but he did not ask for the name or the web address. I don't know if he reads it or not, but I rather doubt that he does. I don't believe that I change what I write because of that, because my own inner censor works pretty well. But that picture in my mind is an aid to discretion, to not revealing too much in a public forum about other people with whom I associate.
My rector is a fine man, quite pastoral and compassionate, especially to the sick, the elderly, (including me) and the otherwise needy in our community. We are blessed to have him with us.
Having said all that, on occasion, my inner censor conflicts with my inner rebel and loses the battle, sometimes to good effect, other times with unfortunate results. I'd like to think that I manage to get it right most of the time, but I am an imperfect human being, and I do make mistakes. When I make mistakes, I hope that I learn from them.
Speaking with all the humility that I can muster, my goal in my writing is to glorify God. If it does not, then I pray that God will direct me to using my time in another manner that will better serve to bring honor to him.
I have no illusions about having great influence even among the small group of folks who come here to visit, and I write as much for myself as for others. However, if no one read my blog and no one commented, I would probably stop blogging and keep a diary. I very much like the exchanges with the people who take the trouble to respond to my posts. I like posting comments on the blogs of others, too, and I did that for years before starting my own blog.
I may run out of words one day or burn out; I've seen that happen with bloggers that I admired quite a lot. Thus far, for me, it's been enjoyable. I think that when blogging stops being fun, I will stop blogging.
How's that for an "all about me" post?
I think that is a FINE "All About Me" post!
ReplyDeleteActually, in some ways, all posts are "all about me." They reflect what is important to you, or what fascinates you, makes you mad or makes you laugh.
And we love what catches your attention, Grandmere. Blog on! :-)
You go, girl!
ReplyDeleteAll about me is good somedays - like today.
ReplyDeleteI think I know what prompted this... wasn't that interesting?
ReplyDeleteI had some emails back and forth with a few of our regulars on what to do and it all worked out. Hopefully it is all fixed, now.
GM, I never comment but I do drop by, so keep on blogging! And though I'm a few days too late, I just need to let you and PJ know that Jon and Steven are MY boyfriends. Mine, mine, mine! Hands off.
ReplyDeleteWow! What supportive comments!
ReplyDeleteLJ, thanks for chiming in.
Dennis, perhaps it was a not-so-good thing that worked to good.
Grandmère run out of words! Stop it! You're killing me!
ReplyDeleteYour Catholic upbringing is showing. In Evangelical Land, we were not worried about the pastor watching what we were doing -- It was Jesus! What if he returned while one was watching a movie at the movie theater?
Having said that, I love the tone of your blog. I think that these are serious times for serious discussions, but I think those discussions can be respectful, which isn't nearly as fun as some other types of discussions, but I could be wrong, if you take my meaning.
Thanks Love.
ReplyDeleteKJ, for some strange reason, I never worry about Jesus looking over my should, because he always is, and he loves me anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhat! Jesus catching you in a movie theater! And I thought I had a warped upbringing!
That should be "shoulder".
ReplyDeleteKJ wrote:we were not worried about the pastor watching what we were doing -- It was Jesus! What if he returned while one was watching a movie at the movie theater?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read that! During my Pentecostal-Evangelical childhood I had a friend whose parents were missionaries with the Church of the Nazarene. He couldn't go to movies, but my family didn't have any problem with movie-going. I asked him why he couldn't go to the movies and he said, "Would you ask Jesus to go to the movies with you?" I told him, "Yes" (I'd just seen The Music Man; I'm pretty sure Jesus liked that movie). Then he said, "What if Jesus comes while you're in the movie theatre?" I told him Jesus could come when I was on the toilet, I really didn't have much control over any of it! The next year when we both represented the Boy Scouts of America at a Jamboree in the Philippine Islands (neither of us had been in the U.S. for at least five years!) he went to the movies every night, seeing terrible stuff that I wouldn't see! Of course, when we got back home to Okinawa he suffered all manner of guilt.
I still worry about Jesus coming back while I'm in the bathroom; will I get left behind??
Mimi, after logging onto Word of Mike's blog and watching the musical videos, I'm afraid my inner censor was too busy rolling on the floor laughing, but still managed to keep me from saying what I was thinking. Keep up your wonderful blogging.
ReplyDeleteKeep on bloggin,' Mimi...I feel I qualify to be an official commenter on your blog...have you seen Fr. Jake's latest post?
ReplyDeleteGenerally, if I feel the priest may be watching what I write, I make sure to put something really raunchy and/or sexually explicit. If he says anything, I then say, "What were you googling to pull that up!"
ReplyDeleteI'm good at putting therapists on the defensive, as well.
My day wouldn't be complete without checking in with the Wounded Bird.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all you do, my dear.
Aw, shucks. Y'all are great. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteKJ and Padre Mickey, you have given me a terrific idea for a post. I already have the title.
Jesus at the Movies.
I suppose this is more in keeping with the tone at OCICBOV, but here's another example of how we can know that Jesus is watching over us at breadandwine
ReplyDeleteI sent it to my 15 year old daughter and she wrote back, "That would creep me out." I guess I spared her that.
I still worry about Jesus coming back while I'm in the bathroom; will I get left behind??
ReplyDeletePadre Mickey, I hate to tell ya, bathroom or not, you will be left behind, wherever you are. None of us will make the Rapture cut.
But think of it! All the boring folks will be gone, and all us fun-loving, movie-going, dancing, joke-cracking, ribald types will still be here. The tribulation won't be all bad.
Klady, as an adult, I wouldn't want that Jesus night light following me around my bedroom.
Mark, you are naughty, naughty.
I have to chime in about the "over-the-shoulder" thing. Having been raised as a secular Jew I didn't worry about the rabbi (who?) or even about God (he's too busy, probably.)
ReplyDeleteYet I do have an inner censor, and she's my Grandma. Honestly, I didn't begin to write seriously until I was in my 30's because I was scared of pissing her off. And she's been dead since I was about four! She was a sweet, wonderful grandma but at some point my mom said, "Grandma is watching over you," and I guess I took it to heart.
Wonder what she'd think of me subbing for MadPriest while he's out of town... yikes.
Well, grandmere,
ReplyDeleteI read your blog all the time, although I don't always comment. And, sadly, something has happened with my connection that my password is no longer accepted on the blogs. I can only comment if the blog accepts "anonymous."
It's really weird, and I haven't figured out what to do yet. I'm actually not very computer literate. (LOL)
Basically, Mimi, I think if your priest loves you for yourself, that wouldn't change even if he disagrees with every word out of your mouth.
You can never affirm, or be someone you're not just to win acceptance or someone else's support that's for sure.
And, I have to say, that even though we can sometimes strongly disagree, I think you're a kind, awesome person, Mimi.
Grace.
KJ,
ReplyDeleteI think alot of the difficulty is folks not understanding our unconditional acceptance, and identity in Christ.
If we're concerned about anything, it should be out of love, not from fear of condemnation or judgement.
Grace.
(as opposed to just plain Frank). Many days I think we hear too much from priests and bishops, pastors and potential king-makers. Grandmere is just what the doctor ordered; long may her fingers skim over the keyboard.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, during the most recent legislative in my home state (Iowa) --- that's due north of you, Grandmere, often confused with Idaho, Ohio and Utah --- gay and lesbian youngsters were added to anti-bullying legislation and a bipartisan coalition (not many Republicans, but enough) capped that achievement by (finally) adding LGBT people to the list of folks who may not be discriminated against in public arenas. So miracles still occur among us, thanks be to God.
Inner Rebel, stand up and yell!
ReplyDeleteGrace. Google has been pigging about with its blog access. If I'm on one of my two "regular" pc's it now, finally, behaves. If I'm on an unrecognized pc, maybe it will accept me, and maybe it won't; and again, sometimes it accepts my pseudonym & sometimes it won't work until I type in my email address. Just stick with it. It's frustrating, but you're in there somewhere.
ReplyDeletePadre,
ReplyDeleteNazarene -- You got it! And no dancing, by the way.
My grandfather was a Nazarene pastor, my parents went to a Nazarene college, and the Nazarene Church was the church of my youth.
My grandfather, however, became quite disillusioned with the church and went, according to the rest of the family, "liberal". He was a gentle soul and I always enjoyed being around him. He died in 1980 when I was 21, and I missed him greatly when I got around to coming out at the age of 40. When one of my uncles told my that Grandpa would be rolling over in his grave, I knew if that could be true, it would be because of his relief at having another ecclesisatical "liberal" in the brood.
Grandmère, can't wait to see the movie post!
I read, Grandmere, even if I don't always comment.
ReplyDeleteMimi,
ReplyDeleteSince I post under my own name and lots of folks know I blog, my inner censor is at work all the time. I can comment all I want and as frankly as I want about things in the wide world, but I have to be careful about what I say about folks close to home.
I enjoy your blog and check it every day. I also appreciate your comments on my blog.
Hi everyone! I have been gone all day. What a treat to come home to all these lovely comments.
ReplyDeleteI understand the feeling you have. The reason why I generally have not told people I know that I am writing this blog is that I am afraid that I would feel constrained or restricted in what I wrote. I am pretty sure I would not want the pastor of the church I attend the most often to be reading my blog. The more anonymous I can be, the better. :)
ReplyDeleteMystical, I feel that my cover will be blown even if I don't tell anyone. In fact, I have a feeling it's already blown. But I don't mind, really. I don't have much to lose if folks I know find out about the blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually searching for a new church home myself. I feel just the opposite.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to be able to share my deepest feelings and convictions to get a sense of where everyone is at, and to better know if that situation is God's will for me.
Ideally, I feel that part of Christian fellowship is being able to honestly share, and to be as transparent as possible.
Of course, I realize that we all have some personal issues that may be very private, between us and God.
But, by in large, I would want people in church to know who I am, and how I truly think and believe. Otherwise, how can relationships and even fellowship in the Lord be real or to any depth.
Grace.
I'm actually searching for a new church home myself.
ReplyDeleteGrace, I pray you find the right church for yourself and your family.
Thank you, Mimi.
ReplyDeleteGod bless!
Grace.
For your amusement and my humiliation I will admit that once I asked my husband to go with me into "that room" in the video store. When I turned around there was my pastor. **blush**
ReplyDeleteThe problem with small towns is you can't even rent a dirty movie without everyone knowing.
I think we all struggle a bit with this when we write. Many of my neighbors and friends read my blog. Very nice, thoughtful post.
Missy, in a small town, you can't break wind without everyone knowing about it, right? No secrets here.
ReplyDeleteGrandmère Mimi,
ReplyDeleteA few days late, but wanted to report myself present and accounted for.
May blogging never stop being fun for you. We need your graceful voice.
Fr. Jake, I never pictured you looking over my shoulder.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in and for your kind words.