Nearly five years, sometimes daily, sometimes monthly (or worse) - I love writing & blogging. Every once in awhile I have to do either a gut check (because of some kind of internal guilt about not doing it enough) or a reality check (because of some kind of outside event). The former happened again yesterday.

I really have no idea who reads/doesn't read this blog. Primarily I blog for myself - any other benefits are worthwhile, but not the real reason I do it. So, when I get a comment on a post it is a nice bonus for me. Friends of mine, family members, adding their two cents to my own thoughts, is something I really enjoy, even if I don't fish for it enough. Every once in awhile, though, I'll get a random comment from someone I don't know, about something I could care less about. Such happened yesterday.

Someone chose to comment on a four year old post - one that was really a quite personal, spiritual post for me at the time - and to add their own theological baggage into the mix. Sorry, not going there. I thought for a couple of minutes about sending my thoughts to him, but decided it wasn't worth the energy. I appreciate spiritual 'sparing' from people I know, love and respect, but could really care less to receive it from strangers who think they have to add their legalistic commentary to several-year old posts on the blogs of people they don't know.

I blog for a reflective outlet for myself
I blog to share the happenings of our family with friends & family
I blog to preserve memories
I blog to capture thoughts & ideas
I blog to hopefully inspire & challenge others
I don't blog to further a personal ego
I don't blog as a platform to debate