Most of my readers never leave a comment.
Most of those who comment do so anonymously.
I have no way of tracing the identity of readers whether they comment or not.
So, it's always a joy when I hear from or meet someone who says, "Hey, I read your blog all the time!"
That happened again, tonight, and I was delighted.
The person who spoke to me explained that she reads some of what I publish here and pays little, even no attention to the rest. I said, "Wonderful! I'm just pleased that I'm offering some things that you find interesting and helpful."
And I figure that most of you find something here to tickle your cyber fancy and to feed your spiritual hard drive. Just know that I'm glad you're here!
I am a big fan -- your blog is my touchstone in the morning for contemplation over the course of the day. We will be traveling to distant shores over the next two weeks, and I'm grateful I will still have this "constant" to keep me connected in this important season. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteI am here even though I am in montana. Love the daily blog and the prayers for the day. I wouldn'e miss my 2x check for anything. Keep up the great work. It is important to us who frequent the site !! Thx.
ReplyDeleteA Loyal Reader writes:
ReplyDeleteI read your blog everyday and have found it to be immensely useful and helpful. I am reading more scripture than I have ever done before, I am finding myself wrestling thoughts in my mind about the meaning behind those readings....in other words, I am actively practicing a daily ritual of prayerful thought...whether I want to or not. That is a good thing. I thank you for the opportunity to do so. I am hooked.
Like those who have commented above, I am also grateful for your insightful blog entries. I just started reading a few weeks ago and I'm already hooked! Sometimes I feel as if your entries are speaking directly to me; oftentimes the topics of your posts are so timely and relevant to my life. What a wonderful gift you have been given -- to have such a profound impact on others lives. I imagine that one of the challenging aspects of your profession is being unable to truly know the effect you've had on people's lives. Through your homilies, blog entries, and more you are effecting many lives for the better, though you may only hear about it from 1 out of every 10 people who are truly touched by your actions. So I thought I'd stand up and be the 1 out of the 10 today since I've never commented before! Thank you, thank you for sharing your gifts to help me and others...even if you don't know who we are or that we're reading at all.
ReplyDeleteI thought it might be time to advise people to vote for your blog as Best Religion Blog, but I see that the place to vote on the sidebar has disappeared.???
ReplyDeleteRe: Link to Best Religion Blog site...
ReplyDeleteAfter weeks of the link being on the sidebar with a couple of reminders, only 10 persons voted. After a while I concluded that my readers, as faithful as they are, aren't inclined to comment frequently - or vote :-)
So I took the link off the sidebar. My main hope had been to increase the readership (which is growing anyway)so "winning" wasn't my goal.
Thanks to the 10 who voted!
Personally, I think you look for too much thanks. I read your blog. Sometimes it helps, and sometimes it doesn't. It may make a difference that I am a male. I tune in because I, like most search. But females, especially lonely ones; flock to lonely priests. You depict yourself to be just that.
ReplyDeleteI would like to add my thanks for your prayerful entries that also engender prayer. I'll add tenfold to anonymous' speculation that you only hear from a few whose lives you change. 1 in 10 must be at least 1 in 100! Please know that we do appreciate your efforts both in the parish and in cyberspace.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 8:30 p.m.:
ReplyDeleteInteresting comment! I'm glad you find some things on my blog interesting and helpful. As I said on this post: those who enjoy some posts here and ignore others are always most welcome.
My point on this post was not to elicit thank-you's from readers. I get plenty of that from parishioners and in email.
What I would like is more comment response because I know from other blogs that a good deal of a blog's worth and value is found in the comboxes. I read the daily paper for news; I read the letters to the editor for a particular slice of life: that's what I like to see here - "letters to the editor." (A difference, of course, is that newspapers don't publish anonymous letters.)
A few comments above indicate that my posts urging study of the weekend scriptures have been helpful for some folks. I'm grateful to hear that because folks seldom comment on those posts. Comments help a blogger know what's reaching his audience and what isn't - and so I'm grateful for your comment, Anonymous.
Lonely is not a word I'd use to describe myself but it is a word I'd use to describe the culture we live in. In spite of our incredible opportunities for communication, many (men and women) are lonely. I meet them everywhere and minister to them and perhaps that experience colors some of my posts.
You mention that you, like most, are searching. If something, anything here helps in your search - that's great! I'm sure you have the wherewithal to dispense with what you don't find helpful - just like all my other readers.
Some readers may take offense at the generalization in your comment, Anonymous, and if that's the case I regret that publishing it has occasioned that.
So, once again: ALL are welcome here: commentors and sideliners; anonymous and screen-named; fans and critics; male and female; the lonely and the not-so-lonely!
I think that's enough on this topic. 'Nuf said? 'Nuf said!
Sincerely,
The Editor
I just found your blog the other day. I have enjoyed reading through it. I too wonder about comments on my own blog, but I too see the numbers each day and get nice words from parishioners (not for thanks but just to know others are out there). Since my post are usually not so deep as your fine posts are, I don't worry too much. Good blog, keep up the fine work. Pax!
ReplyDeleteAustin,
ReplyDeleteI check your blog every day. We have so many similar interests, that it's amazing!
Hang in there, and keep up the good work.
Peace,
Gene Vavrick
I don't think there's any need to continue the thread about loneliness so I'm moderating the comments here with a heavier-than-usual hand :-)
ReplyDeleteLet's move on!
I like a lot of the poetry you quote... and the interesting art you find. You inspire me, important for one sort of out of the door almost...
ReplyDeleteI check in from time to time, but I believe my 83 year-old mother (also a Piskie) reads you fairly religiously (pun intentional). She has been known to call me and say, "Did you read xyz's blog today? Go read it!" You have fans across ecumena! Is that a word? LOL!
ReplyDeleteBTW, my discernment committee is about to start work. I have a good first draft of 2/3 of my ministry statement and three different versions of my spiritual autobiography, each of a seemingly different person. Well, not quite, but close. It's a good process, but not easy.
If I don't wander in during the next week, I hope the Triduum really takes you on a journey, as it should. I hope that for us all.