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Posted by Christina Chase11 Comments on The Blogging Experience biographical

The Blogging Experience

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Four years ago, I pushed out of my comfort zone and did two things which have had lasting effect on my life: (1) I made a personal act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and (2) I started a blog.  This blog.  The original intent of Divine Incarnate was to chronicle my consecrated life.  (My fourth anniversary was this past Sunday, The Feast of Christ the King.)  This experience has taught me many things…

4 Things Learned in 4 Years of Blogging

  1. I am not a good consecratee (if that’s a word) lacking discipline and drive to keep a holy hour every Thursday or even to offer my day each morning when I wake. (Although the introduction of a song offering has helped.)
  2. I am not a popular blogger – not that that was my goal, but my blogging experience has shown me that I will never be a successfully famous blogger (a little dream that must pop into the head of every person who starts up a blog). No legions of followers and posts going viral for me!
  3. I enjoy being part of a community. Developing relationships with a few of my few readers, I look forward to interaction with them when the spirit moves either them or me to visit and reflect, always delightfully amazed when our words find kinship, empathy, and appreciation.  My community (you) have helped me to become a more open and considerate person.  (Thank you!)
  4. I will always seriously dislike the word blog.   (Seriously, I’m thinking we should bring back the original “weblog” – any takers?)

If you noticed, each of the things that I’ve learned through blogging begins with the word “I”.  One reason is that honest weblogging (hmmm…) is very personal, so the experience of weblogging would certainly teach the weblogger something about him or herself.  (Okay, bringing back “weblog” might not work….)  The other reason that every lesson learned begins with the word “I” is that… well… I’m a rather self-centered person.

Blogging isn’t doing much to help that.  Although it is opening me up more to my community and thinking about the lives of others, it is also prompting me to write more and more about myself.  The posts that seem to generate the most response are the ones that only I can write – this, I believe, is true about all blogs.  And the ones that only I can write are very personal, digging deep into my experiences and emotions, wondering, longing, fearing, desiring….  Sometimes, I get tired of myself.  Having considered myself a writer since I was a child, I wonder if every writer gets sick of the sound of her own voice.

Theory and Practice

A blog about Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was, in my mind, supposed to be very theological and spiritual.  I think that I imagined becoming something like a Julian of Norwich (I read a little Revelations of Divine Love as a late teen) mixed with a St. John of the Cross – a contemplative, in other words, with painful spiritual struggles and epiphanies of delight, all about Christ.  I envisioned perhaps developing a deep and unique theology that might become part of the many writings approved by the Catholic Church – yes, I admit it.  One never knows precisely where God is leading when one agrees to embark on a journey with Christ.  I certainly wasn’t going to put limits upon God’s grace (she said, giggling, with a mock-innocent shrug of the shoulders).

But, that’s just not me.

Whenever I try to be theological, I feel merely preachy.  And whenever I wax spiritual, I feel pretentious.  I strive to always tell the truth in my blog, grittily honest, to be sincere about my thoughts and feelings, to never deceive and lead people into thinking that I am better than I am.  But, sometimes… well… sometimes I am better than I am.

I mean that, sometimes, in the very act of writing, I am momentarily deepened and lifted up – not by the power of my words, but by the power of the One Who gives words, Who gives thoughts and speech.  God may, from time to time, give me a teeny tiny glimpse of something bigger than myself – and I am grateful for the gift and to be able to share it, as flawed as I am.  It should be known that whatever bits of wisdom there may be seen in this little blog are meant as much for me as for you, my dear reader.  I need to be reminded of God’s grace.  I need to be taught, to be shown.

God whispers in the smallest of breezes, while we are living here, in the Sacred Heart….

© 2017 Christina Chase

 Photo: © 2017 Dan Chase

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Christina Chase View All

Although crippled by disease, I'm fully alive in love. I write about the terrible beauty and sacred wonder of life, while living with physical disability and severe dependency. A revert to the Catholic faith through atheism, I'm not afraid to ask life's big questions. I explore what it means to be fully human through my weekly blog and have written a book: It's Good to Be Here, published by Sophia Institute Press.

11 thoughts on “The Blogging Experience” Leave a comment ›

  1. You are not alone in your “few followers” world of blogging. Lately, I’ve even noticed a few more MIA. However, I read a post not long ago talking about those who unsubscribe from newsletters. The sender of the newsletter was told never to look at who or why they left. It isn’t good for the soul. So, I’m giving up on numbers and just thanking God I have a place to write and connect with others with similar interests. Glad I found you today on Twitter. And I will be following from henceforth.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you, Sherrey! I’ve been a fan of yours on Twitter for a while and I’m so happy to have you visit here! Yes, I keep telling myself that numbers don’t matter, quality is more important than quantity. But, it’s much more comforting hearing it from you and knowing that I’m not alone! Going to sign up for your newsletter, now 🙂
      Thanking God, with you, for WRITING and for any and every reader that may pass my way,
      Pax Christi
      Christina

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  2. Hello Christina. I hope you see the link between your thoughts and this justification for a Catholic Chapel to be built at Makerere University in Uganda. Fr Arthur Hughes, Catholic Director of Education, is addressing the Governor (The King’s Representative): “Your Excellency, you can not honestly deprive the many believers in Jesus-Eucharist (sic) of his presence in their midst. He is their bosom friend, their inspiration, their safeguard, their strength. Without Him their life becomes wasted, bare, dull, and aimless.” An inspired argument that won the day.
    Keep up the good work!

    Will.

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    • THAT is beautiful! So glad that reason and grace won – Thank you for sharing! Here’s to our inspiration, our safeguard, our strength – the best friend that anyone will ever have – Christ our Lord. Honored to be a fellow laborer with you, “Will”!
      Pax Christi

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  3. Hello Christina, I hear and feel your sadness and confusion so to say. Maybe a bad choice of words. I know I feel that too… more is better (I fought (at times still do) but want to do the best for Him) right girlfriend 🙂 Actually “less is more” If I may coin a phase by Loius Sullivan in the beginning of last century Architect. But, I am trying to find the words here. Sorry. Ok, the thing is you hit it on the head. Having relationships with your readers is more important. Your beautiful and strong content will grow. people will respond and your readership will grow in time. You will see. I hope I making sense here. You see in time.

    I encourage you to keep up the good work. Spread the news and the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is so pleased with you and what you do.
    Build it and they will come. The devil is trying to trick you with self-dought. No, He cannot you have been blessed with many gifts. Do not give them away to his nonsense. Better to keep your focus on God. He will lead you to where you need to be.
    if you do not mind a quote from Imitation of Christ: ” How detrimental it is for us to neglect the purpose of our calling and to divert our minds to things that are not our concern.” well now that I wrote this … humm does it pertain? You are searching that is good. I too had to let go of the numbers game. As Sherrey mention above. Now after saying all that. oh I like the weblog I am with you.

    blessings let me know

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    • Hi Donna Marie! Exciting to see we’ve landed in another place together. I’ve been following Christina on Twitter but only visited her site yesterday. And this morning in my inbox a note that you had “liked” my comment on this post. Small, small world!

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      • Hello Sherrey, Yes it is a small, small world. Great to see you here. Glad you discovered Christina. She is awesome. Hope to see you again here. See you on twitter. I get your post too. good. hard to respond to all. Blessings 🙂

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    • I do love that quote from the Imitation of Christ – I need to take that to heart in many ways. Yes, relationships are more important than anything else and I am grateful for the ones that I’ve made here. Your faithful encouragement is always appreciated, Donna, my friend! And, I have to say, about “Less is more” – so THAT’S where that comes from! Very cool.

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