Mostly just to remind myself: I started this blog as a way to start getting some of my ramblings and musings out of the pinball machine of my brain and into the visible realm.
I was talking to Jac about this strange phenomenon of blogging and I realized that I hadn’t really been posting on here too much because I didn’t have anything to say to anybody. And then I realized that I had deviated from my original intention of blogging. I had fallen into the trap which led Nate to discontinue his blog: I was starting to write for others and judging the validity of what I had to say based on how much feedback I was getting. Well, those days are over.
So, although I will still sometimes use this thing to communicate with people, I’m going to hone the focus here a bit. This is mostly going to be a space for me to get visceral with my thoughts and wrestles. A place to find the rhythm of rest and restlessness that will propel me into my place in God’s kingdom on earth. A place to help me find the sanity that I don’t really have.
So, I’ll leave you all with this thought tidbit: explore the notion of fixed-hour prayer. You should currently see the book called Praying with the Church by Scot McKnight in my sidebar and proceed to purchase it and read it. I, however, got mine for free by reading his blog and getting one of 50 free books his publisher gave away! But I digress…
I haven’t started to actually do this fixed hour prayer, largely because I don’t actually have a book to do so with and I don’t want to do it off the screen. But, here’s a good site that explains fixed-hour prayer in a basic way and gives you a set of prayers for today. If you’re like 99.8% of Protestant Christians, you’re dissatisfied with your prayer life. Count me in. I hope that this path richens my intimacy with God and deepens my faith. Let’s see where this thing leads…
So, it’d be fitting to conclude with the end of the Vesper’s prayer for today: (And you’re supposed to cross yourself when you see the † symbol to remind yourself of the centrality of the cross)
The Prayer Appointed for the Week
Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. †
The Concluding Prayer of the Church
Almighty God, you have surrounded me with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that I, encouraged by their good example; may persevere in running the race that is set before me, until at last I may with them attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. †
6 responses to “I Blog, Therefore…”
“A place to help me find the sanity that I don’t really have.”
I like you Matt. I’m glad you’re not quitting. Like I said, I would comment a LOT more but alas, too insecure with my ramblings. I write many, many, posts I never publish, write emails I never send and have encouragements and thoughts to share with everyone that are ping ponging around in my brain but I think they don’t want to hear it.
Please forgive me. I’m making a concerted effort not to keep back that which is good from others and be the encouragement I am meant to be.
God bless you. Keep tracking with the prayer theme.
I’m opening my heart and “talking” from there.
I had a nice communion time this afternoon just communing. It was nice and I think it was prayer. Just not me rambling. Opening my heart to see and feel His presence without fear that I have to “do” something first, like say the right thing or whatever.
Communing, thinking breathing, talking from my heart, knowing He is there. Sensing and being real, not jumping through hoops to get at Him. It was nice. I like Him, He was there and didn’t mind my company. It’s nice to sit and rest with God. Not a bad thing at all, is it?
Bless you and Jac, too.
:)
I hear on the blogging dilemma. I also find I’m distraught about the thing because unless I produce that sparkling entry that will capture an audience, I don’t want to write. Pretty lame.
I think I started blogging with the hope of being real, getting others’ correction and feedback on the honesty, and doing the same for others. Perhaps I’ve just become slack at forcing out the myriad of thoughts and questions in my head? If so, I guess I just need to get back at it.
Blessings on ya bro.
“in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me” != Orthodoxy.
But boy I wish it did.
So, why is it that the internet seems to conjure up performance anxiety? (i ask this question just for the sake of pondering). is it because there’s always this nagging thought that anyone ANYONE could be reading what you write? the queen, the pope, or worst of all, your mother…
is it that you might get e-famous and be ‘discovered’ as a writer/thinker/comedian ???
ah, the internet. bringing a whole new social dynamic to our lives….
i wouldnt say its quite superficial, no, thats not the word. hm. but it sure is something not quite reality.
thanks for the thoughts people
here’s another one: part of the problem with this bloggin thing is that you don’t always know your audience. I would speak very differently to my friends as compared with strangers.
And here’s the crux: it could be either on a blog. Who then do I write for, knowing that people other than my intended audience may well read this and possibly misunderstand me?
Misunderstanding is kinda fun though – at least it’ll give us more to talk about?