Personal Blogging Rules, Draft #1

I've been blogging for six years now, and have enjoyed sharing this kind of community with those of you who know me, read it, and respond in dialogue. Online community is a gift, but to enjoy it authentically with others requires much discernment and compassion.  I know there are those who read blogs or wander around Facebook just to stay in the know about other people's lives, without ever actually engaging them in conversation and relationship (some call this "online stalking").  And to be fair, I can't blame them.  It's easier to read about a friend's life than to talk to her/him about it.  But this is not genuine friendship, and will result in loneliness eventually.  I've been guilty of doing this, but as an adult God has challenged me to rethink this kind of behavior.  Ideally, we would always get to share thoughts and life in person, but we don't always have that opportunity.  So I occasionally take time to [try to] explain what is going on in my life, and reflect on said life, at which point you can follow up and chat with me at your convenience!  Many of you do, and I heart you.

I'm not exactly a regular blogger, but when I do write, there are a few basic rules through which I filter content.  In a society whose media is often a chaotic, self-absorbed mess, I think it's important for those with an online presence to be intentional about our voices.  So I've been thinking about what my filter looks like, and decided that these are my basic rules.  Although, I revise them pretty regularly based on things I learn, so we should probably call it Personal Blogging Rules, draft #1.

• I will not blog angry, as a reaction something I or those I love have experienced--even if it would be completely justified.  Wisdom doesn't exactly emanate from this genre of posting (in a blog or other social media), so my ranting will not help anyone, and it won't really make me feel better, in the end.
• I will share resources that have been helpful to me or to people I know.  Items of a spiritual nature, in particular, are meant to be shared!
• I will write about faith in the most balanced and generous ways possible to me.  If I have a hangup of some kind, I will try to acknowledge it and see it from differing perspectives.  I will work to not fear people or ideas that are different, or be threatened by them.  I will seek for greater understanding of all God's creatures, and compassion for them.  Except some spiders.
• I will take delight in life, and report it here.  This would explain all the posts about food.
• I will create paths, if needed, to connect disciplines and persons which some may see as unrelated.  Some days it make take a push mower, others a machete--but we're going to play nice if it kills me.
• I will be authentic as much as possible, even though I am guaranteed to be misunderstood by some, and written off by others.

It's a start.  If you have your own rules or questions about mine, I'd love to hear them.  Peace.