I just read a post on Internetmonk entitled “10 Reasons I Don’t Read Your Blog.”  I just couldn’t say everthing I wanted to in the comment box.  Then I remembered: I have blog.  Perfect.

First, you can read the original article at internetmonk.com.  Secondly, I realize what he is trying to do. There’s a lot of junk out there on the internet, Christian blogosphere included.  Reading that article can help anyone write, manage, and post better.  He’s trying to make the world of Christian blogging a better place.  I’m an amateur blogger myself, and some of the information is useful.  I have no problem admitting that.  Now, with that in mind:

Part of the reason I started blogging was for me.  Last summer, I had the chance to grow a garden for the first time in years.  A 13 year-old boy from the neighborhood watched me pulled weeds from the gound one at a time while sitting on my knees.  He told me how I could do it faster.  I thanked him, but told him no thanks.  He offered to do it for me, for a price.  BIG no thanks.  I told him I enjoyed what I was doing very much.  He said it was boring.  I said “I know.  That’s what I like about it.”  At 13, you’re looking for constant adventure, something to keep your mind and body stimulated.  By 30, maybe too much adventure is not a good thing.  I teach high school.  Hand pulling weeds, rather slowly at that, got me outside, in the fresh mountain air and alone with my thoughts.  It did me more good than an hour on a phsychiatrists couch.  There was no pressure, no deadlines, no forms to submit, no one to answer to.  And except for this one kid (which I ignored) no one to tell me I was doing it wrong.  Therapy.

My garden turned out more food than 10 families could eat.  But in the end, it was the time I spent working in it that were worth more to me than the produce.  Lots of people got to enjoy the free vegetables, and I made more than a couple of caseroles to share.  The gardening, however, was good for me. 

Hopefully, there will be readers who enjoy my blog.  The Internet Monk is a wise and decerning reader.  Many people who use the internet are not.  (I don’t mean you, other readers.)  I think my posts help make the internet a better place because they’re at least better than garbage.  I think I can point a soul or two in the right direction.  I think I can open up a discussion from time to time that would be good for all of us.  But even if none of these happen, the work has been good for me.  You get out of something what you put into it.  I will always be looking for ways to improve.  I welcome advice.  I hope this really turns into something.  That would be kind of like the “produce” from my garden.  The bottom line though: I enjoy being the gardener.