Last week , I was talking to someone who reads the blog . ‘I’m not sure how people who don’t know you can get it. What you write is just like who you are. I read about you and because I know you in person, it makes sense.’
But today I was challenged by a different friend (yes, I have two!) who asked me this: ‘Why’, he said, ‘do you beat yourself up online?’
I thought about it for a moment. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well’, he said. ‘The person I see in front of me, is very different to the one I read about. She’s confident and outgoing – normal. But when I read your posts, I see someone very different. If I didn’t know you, I’d say she was completely mad. How can you be both?’
Who is right? Or are both? Are we different in private and public – and if so, does it make us liars? Or just human? Modern life requires a bit of compartmentalisation – but to what extent?
This has made me think about blogging – and whether or not what we write or say really represents who we are. To a certain extent, writing mediates a person. You can pick and choose what you want to present – not just to make yourself look better, but to cut yourself down. This can be defensive or false modesty or a cultural tic or honesty – all at the same time. But then, if you write most days over a sustained period of time- could you hide who you are, even if you wanted to?
We’re limited, not just in our medium of communication, but in self-awareness and understanding. Life is often more complicated than a blog can explain. I don’t understand it – or even myself. I don’t want to write an online diary with Sunday-school answers, but sometimes that’s what comes out. Is it ‘worthwhile’? Honest? ‘My day was terrible but God is good’. Trite, but also true. Go figure.
When I started blogging, I thought about doing it anonymously. But I wanted to stick a finger up to the idea that mental health issues or brokenness or whatever you want to call it, is unacceptable. To point to the gospel that declares me righteous and beautiful, no matter what I’ve done. To nail my colours to the mast and say ‘it’s ok to be who we are’. That’s why Jesus came. It would be great to help other people – but more than this, I write to preach to myself. To remind myself that the gospel is true and that being real is more important than being ‘normal’.
Believe in yourself – your amazing :-) ……and keep Blogging!
And I, for one, am mighty glad that your blog is so real.
Love your blog Emma and how real you are. Your honesty really challenges me. I love how you always point to Jesus too…I guess sometimes a blog can help us be more real and something it helps us hide. But I always enjoy what you write :)
Thanks guys!
If you haven’t already, check out Cat and Beckie’s excellent blogs – http://beckie-a.blogspot.com and
http://gospelsunshine.wordpress.com
..As far as I know, Phil hasn’t got one yet – but I’m hoping it’s just a matter of time :-) …
As someone who’s never met you and knows nothing about you except what I’ve read on your website, I’m grateful for your honesty and for the way you often articulate just what I’m thinking or feeling. And most of all for the way you keep pointing me back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Oh, and you often make me smile or even (!!) laugh!
What a gift your self exposure has been to me, a complete stranger, who stumbled upon you completely by accident. What a gift! I was so encouraged to continue along in what I was doing that I keep coming back around to see what else we agree on. Your honesty, humor, and insight is being used by God for his own glory. No greater calling can be found.
Debs and Caroline – thanks for such kind and encouraging words.