Why I decided to start blogging

I've wanted to start blogging for quite a few months now. Last summer, a few of my friends started blogging and to this day, I find their blogs great and fun to read. Sometimes I am genuinely thankful that the post was written (I am encouraged, or built up in some way), sometimes there is an issue that is raised that makes me think - think deeply, and helps me to examine some idea that I have and why I have or how it applies to my life. Sometimes I just enjoy reading little stories about what people are up to and some of their reflections, their thoughts, and the decisions that they have to make day by day. In general though, good blogs are just fun to read. Just like good books, good articles, good papers - they're all very different and whether they are informative, creative, pursuasive, fictitious, encouraging, they are captivating to read and are often remembered.

So why did I decide to start a blog? There is really no one or main reason other than I just wanted to. I did try to think of one and, in a sense, thought I should have a reason before starting. Then I just decided that I would give it a try and see how it went. There are a few things that I am looking forward to as a result of starting to blog (I guess they might count as reasons...)

1. I am excited about remembering

A few months ago I was reading through Exodus (new Bible reading plan got me to Exodus right around February...) and I was once again hit with how concerned the Lord is with instructing the Israelites to remember (Ex 16:32). It was important for them to remember the goodness and the provision of the Lord, and I think, in this season especially, it would be very approprite for me to seek to remember the great works of the Lord in my life, and blogging about them would be one way of doing so!

2. I am excited about learning to write/communicate
There's no question that blogging (at least good, enjoyable blogging) requires a certain level of maturity, conscientiousness, and tact. I admit I am not a very proficient writer or communicator, but I hope that through blogging I will grow in learning how and what to communicate through writing. I especially hope to learn how to better engage on more personal or sensitive topics.

3. I am excited about becoming more disciplined
I think one of the reasons many people want to blog but never get started is because of the "daunting" pressure to keep the blog running with frequent posts. Of course a blog that is alive and worked on frequently is maybe more appealing to read and follow than one that is scarcely touched. So I think a part of me deciding to go ahead with this blog will require a certain level of discipline in taking a little time out of my day/week to write something up and keep this guy going.

4. I am excited about hearing your thoughts and comments
Even though blogging is about... blogging, a big part of me is really interested in hearing comments, responses, and thoughts on any and all of these posts. Part of me would rather simply read your blogs and comments than write my own. But because of the reasons mentioned above, I'm hoping that I can still do this while at the same time blogging.

I'm not sure where this blog will go, but I'm pretty happy to have finally had it started!