Tuesday, July 19, 2005

We all have issues!

I got my first negative comment yesterday! I realize that this admission brands me as a "baby blogger". Surely those who have "been around the blog" can remember what it felt like the first time a negative comment was posted. On one hand, it is so exciting to be noticed! Again, I must admit I'm just a "wanna-be" writer, and never have actually published anything. In this magical land of "Blogdom" where instant publishing is such a breeze, it still comes as a shock and a thrill that somebody out there actually read what I wrote. On the other hand, as all real writers know, there is a keen sense of rejection that is felt when the work of their hands is criticized!

I've been around just long enough to hear about brutal blog-wars and obscene comments, so in the early stage of shock and disbelief, I hastily wiped out the comment with a swift click. Fully intending to keep my pride intact, I dismissed the words with an air of indifference. But like a pink elephant with purple spots, the harder I tried not to think about it, the more I began to dwell on it.

I'd like to make some observations about the comment I received. (I do wish I hadn't been so hasty to delete it, so I could be more exact with the wording.) The first is this; though it was negative, it was not all untrue. All day long one sentence kept coming back to me from the respondant: "You have too much time on your hands." I have heard that same accusation from two or three others, and I agree! I do have too much time on my hands; diligence and productivity have not been some of my stellar attributes. (Though I have worked very hard on this blog!) I have, in fact, been looking for a summer job all summer, and it appears that I must soon start looking for fall employment since summer is half over.

I find it delightfully ironic, though, that this person judged me as having too much time on my hands, yet he was obviously blog-browsing, and came upon my blog. He then took the time to read my rather long post, cut and paste some of my words, then comment on it. Apparently he must have had some time on his hands.

The second insight came to me when I could not contain my curiosity and clicked on the commenter's profile. The first impression I had when glancing at his interests and reading preferences was also a word he used to describe others: weird! (I did not bother to go to his blog: I didn't have the time or the inclination.) I immediately thought, "Isn't that typical? We all think everybody else is weird!"

The part of my post that "Anonymous" took issue with was at the end of my post on friendship (if indeed he did read all of it). I was pondering "being Jesus" but I suppose it might have been interpreted as "pontificating":
pon·tif·i·cat·ed, pon·tif·i·cat·ing, pon·tif·i·cates
1. To express opinions or judgments in a dogmatic way.
He called it utter "silliness" that God does not want me to be me, and sternly declared that "being yourself" is the only way to be, and that Jesus is only a good EXAMPLE. Then, he suggested something about my need to "find myself" since I don't know who I am. No doubt I hit on some sore spots with my God-talk.

The final observation I'd like to share was actually made by DH (Dear Hubby), when I explained the issue "Anonymous" had about being ourselves and not trying to "be Jesus". DH simply asked, "Why would anyone want to start with their own messed-up version of humanity when they could have the Perfect Sinless One as their model?"

Think of this word-picture, fellow "Bloggers"! When you want to create a new blog, which would you choose, a template that I have gone into and messed up all the html codes (something I do quite well!), or a new template created by the Author, and designed specifically for you, with a completely original profile, description, and body! You would of course want the best template, right? You can never BE the original--there is only one God--but you can be an original template designed by the Master!

In conclusion, (I know I wrote my "final" observation already, but I have one final conclusion--what can I say, I'm married to a pastor!) I certainly didn't post this as a rebuttal or defense. I merely wanted to point out that much of what was behind the negative comment was that he had issues with my issues. That reminds me of a t-shirt that my teenager wears. Perhaps every blogger should wear this as a sign of humility (not!): it says, "We all have issues--mine are just more important than yours!"

3 comments:

  1. Hmmm -- your teenager's Tee shirt reminds me of my daughter's favorite: A Girl Without A Boy Is Like A Fish Without A Bicycle. There will always be negative people with too much time on their hands who will respond negatively to any truth presented to them. Take it as a sign something you've said has put them under conviction.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think you have a fantastic site. It must be to receive negative comments. If it wasn't good, it wouldn't bother someone, would it. It's a signal that you're in the battle.
    Rest easy and keep glorifying God. I am praying for your R&R to be refreshing.
    John

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you! I appreciate the affirmations. I do accept your comments as a SIGN and a SIGNAL that I am doing something worthwhile with my time; for the glory of God!

    Blessings,
    Glorybeam

    ReplyDelete