Inspirational
Blogging, Not slogging: Seven years!
My friend, Letty, once said I am a slogger. Not to my face, of course. She told another friend—behind my back. After all, slogging is not a complimentary word to describe a friend, especially one who heads the creative department.
I pondered that remark for an hour, and it comes back to me when I reflect on my work ethics.
It resurfaces again now, many years later, as I complete my seventh year of blogging tomorrow. Yes, seven years! And I never missed one self-imposed deadline yet—okay, late for a day or two when I am in bed, sick—not even when I am abroad or out-of-town with zero wi-fi connection. On those occasions, I blog offline and upload it immediately as soon as my laptop’s little green light blinks.
This sure seems like slogging on the outside, but in all honesty (believe it or not), I enjoy every millisecond of blogging.
I think they call that “joy” (if you have a happier word, that would be it). I enjoy writing every word, or changing it to another one, and I can’t think of a better way to spend my time off from my real “job,” book writing, where, if you see me work, seems like I am slogging, too.
Many people I know (throw in Tony in that group) start one thing and stop midway when they lose interest. I don’t lose interest. Maybe because I don’t start anything I am not interested in.
Well, I plead guilty to one. I dipped my toes in cooking because I was pressured from all corners to do so (“Every married woman should cook!”). Cooking never liked me, neither did I like it. So after two dishes in a span of months, which got two-thumbs-down reviews both times, I cried, uncle!
In a home where grace dwells, I have three sons and a husband who visit that place—which I don’t unless hogtied or threatened—every chance they get: the kitchen. They go there to cook, I remain in the dining room to eat.
Oh, but this post is not about that place. It is about this place, my seven-year-old blog. It has today over 198,000 hits from 178 countries, 727 posts, and 131 followers. In celebration, I am changing my old, fresh-leaves header
to leaves crafted by human hands—Ugu Bigyan’s, a well-admired Filipino pottery artist:
I can’t compose an ode to Leaves of Grace, year 7, better than what Paul wrote to the Romans (Chapter 12: 6-8): “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” Romans 12:6-8 (NLT)
Lord, thank you for year seven and the years of joyful blogging I have left till you welcome me home.
