The Blogs I Do Not Post:
It’s quickly approaching 10 years where I’ve learned there are things you do not discuss within a blog, just as there are things you do not bring up around the water cooler, or around the dinner table…
Wherever, and whoever you are, there are conversations that are neutral and valuable without being negative or divisive. Some are made for publics discussion, others should be done only one vs one. Share on XWith my blog, I’ve learned how to write about things that will state who I am, what I believe, what I think about situations around us, but try to never resort to “getting in your face“. This helps neither one of us!
So. I’ve made choices about certain topics, opinion pieces and rants that will not make it to my blog post.
There are some Opinion Pieces I’ve written and do not fear what you think about them!
Some Topics Do Not Need Discussion
Before you think I’m a chicken about sensitive things, think again. I’m not. It is more about what I want my blog to become, who I want to reach, and the voice I want to have with your time spent in reading and ruminating through my posts. I am not worried if you know deeper things about my beliefs, but I do not want to rant and rave. It’s not productive. I lose. You lose. We all lose.
On the other hand, I want my position to be well thought out and I come to my stance from conversations I’ve had with good people through the years who do not have the same beliefs that I have, and from others who see things quite similar to my viewpoints.
Still, we’ve all learned there are some items best not discussed where we will create negative experiences. And there are things we should all stay away from, at certain times. It has nothing to do with being right or wrong, rather, what do we want to invest with our family and friends time?
Think about some public figure you know, perhaps even respect. You know they are doing a good job at what they do. Now, how many times has our image changed when they start being personal and spouting their views with an outside voice? Needless to say, there are some I will never follow to begin with, no matter their talent, simply because of their personal beliefs and views. Had they kept silent, I would probably be blissfully ignorant. But open their mouths and publish…well, that’s what File 13 is for…
Some Conversations Should Be Tossed
File 13. That smart little container by the side of the desk that is used to discard unwanted, or unneeded, items. It was nearly 30 years ago that we started isolating certain items that were once considered trash and determining they still had a second life, so we put them into a separate bin called “recycle” Then, we added a “shred” bin for sensitive things that need to be totally destroyed before they were ever considered to be worthy of recycle or to be dumped.
The need for resources and privacy dictates that we choose carefully which items go into which bin.
Could we not consider the same three points for all our thoughts, talking points and any form of publication? There are blog posts I want to share, but my audience is different and the future of my blogging is tentative enough that I choose my words carefully.
What do I want to publish, to which reader, and for what purpose; versus, what do I really have to say about anything that rolls through my mind! Some things are simply for File 13, others can be Recycled for another usage, and others should be Shredded because they contain personal or damaging information.
Perception, Lens, Worldview and Filters
We all have lens we use to view the world around us and bring certain elements into focus, and probably the same lens creates blurry results for those things we want to keep a blind eye to. While you choose your lens, perhaps it would be nice for you to shop for some filters to help you control your speech, talking points, and rhetoric from the times they are not needed or required.
During these past years of political turmoil, I have learned to keep my personal views to myself around certain groups of people, although I can chat with an individual that happens to be in that group, and we can converse about politics quite well. We can agree to disagree. Conversationally, we each know where the other is and know that no amount of discussion will change either’s viewpoint, but it does help me bring my position into focus and keep my talking points sharpened.
Learning who you can talk to, when and where, and how far you can take the conversation, well, that’s Wisdom spilling on our eyes and ears right now. And we need it to soak into our mind so that it will control our tongue as well as every avenue of publication!
Here’s My Thought
In the early workings of the Christian church, Jesus told his disciples to enter into their ministry harmlessly. (Matthew 10:16-20) The apostle Paul deepens this teaching to show the character of the believer to live in life a better way. Better way? This is what he teaches!
Do all things without complaining and disputing,
that you may become blameless and harmless,
children of God without fault
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world,
holding fast the word of life,
so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ
that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
(Philippians 2:14-16 NKJV)
What would it be like if we all carried this view into the world around us? Shine as lights! Holding fast the word of life! Blameless! Harmless! Better still, why do we not do this with everyone we come in contact with?
On the flip side of this, Jesus earlier described false prophets dressed as sheep, but are actually ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15) They are good at playing the part of an animal that is not their inside nature! Why? To win the game! The prophet Jeremiah described the same type of people who are wicked and laying in wait with snares to trap those that belong to God. (Jeremiah 5:26)
Summary
Perhaps it would do well for all of us to check our conversations, speech patterns, and language…we want to be the best we can be, but we are so easily swayed into a style of living that is not Godly, or conductive to reaching all sides of an argument.
I keep telling myself…my walk is not of this world.
There is a better place and I want to focus on that better time. Find those you can spend quality discussion time, but learn that you keep your views to yourself when you are in the sweaty masses that surround you!