Rightly Dividing the Bloglife

So there's always this funny dilemma when it comes to blogs about "vocation" and "motherhood."

What am I doing off in cyber-space reading or writing this great piece about "being present" and "being home" for my kids, when I should rather be doing it right now, right?!

I mean, when does my "bloglife" actually backfire and become sinful?

My pastor said something last night when we were discussing this very question that really helped me with the great balance of it all.

He said you can judge a thing by the fruit it brings forth.
If what I spend time reading or writing is bringing me into a closer and better relationship with the real people, right here in my life right now, then it's good and profitable.
If it drives me more inward and away from the real people in my life every day, from my husband, children, or the women right here in my own local church... is not only unprofitable but detrimental.
So simple, yet profound.  At least for me it was.


Along with the obvious mis-ordering of vocational priorities - yelling at your kids to be quiet so you can concentrate on this blog post about motherhood, or spending a late afternoon perusing food blogs and not getting the dinner made - there's also the trap of this illusory life women can fall into, where these cyber-communities become more real to them and precious to them than the people in their own home or church community.  They feel more understood and appreciated "online" than they do with the sister they have a hard time with in the office or their peer in the nursery who really knows them  (too well :).

On the other hand, there are those who do not have within their vicinity people in their own stage or station or season of life wherein they can draw practical advice and help or have face-to-face vocational chats.  That's where blogs and supportive sites for the everyday life at home really become gainful for comfort, restored joy in vocation, peace in knowing you're not alone, etc.  (I think Barbara Curtis makes some very good points on the proper use of blogs for moms in her article *here*.)


So what we are saying here to anyone reading this is that we do not want to waste any of your valuable time.  Our goal is to share things that are practical, profitable, and supportive of the life you live and the love you give to those whom God has given you as neighbors.
And we all need lightened up once in a while too.

We all need encouragement now and then, and there is much comfort to be had in knowing that there are other women who have already walked or are walking this same bumpy road, day by day, hour by hour, step by step, in faith, in Him.  Through our mutual conversation we can all hopefully learn a new shortcut or two, and avoid some puddles, and maybe hear words that will help to guide us and comfort us through the rough and dark passages.

I, for one, have received much encouragement from other mothers taking the time to put into words their solutions to everyday problems, their struggles, their humorous stories from daily life with little children, and Biblically based perspectives on topics we all deal with daily.
Hopefully this blog can give a little of that.