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The Starving Blogger

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When I read to my teenage daughters, a lesson from Habitudes, by Tim Elmore, hoping to prepare them for life, I didn’t expect the message to be for me. The lesson began with the story of the starving baker.

Do you know that baker?

It’s the one who spends so much time baking bread for others to eat, that he neglects to eat. He was so busy serving bread to the others, he never stopped long enough to feed himself.

I’m nearing the end of a 31 days series on my blog. Writing everyday has been an incredible experience for me, and all-consuming, too. Though, I am careful to make sure the family is taken care of first, and I hope they know they are my priority, all of it combined can be taxing.

The minutes turn into hours. The hours turn into days. I’m studying and writing for everyone else, and I don’t even know I’m starving. Starving, not for the food I consume when my belly’s hunger pangs remind me that I’m hungry, but for the Bread of Life that sustains my soul, and provides the nourishment necessary for strength, growth, and health. (John 6:35, Matthew 4:4)

I’ve been working assiduously to produce content for my blog series. Pouring over books and journals, tapping out words with a desire to help others recognize their God-given potential, rekindle passion, and help foster growth in their life. And I enjoy doing do so. However, I cannot allow myself to become the starving blogger in the process. And neither should you.

The story of the starving baker shows us; we must nourish ourselves before we feed others. It is a selfless thing to do, to nourish our own soul, so we are giving out of the overflow of our life.

And it’s not just my own writing, but there are a number of online communities I am part of, and contributing to. I’m helping promote others and supporting them in their dreams. Connecting on the networks to encourage and pray for others. I am homeschooling my children and everything is done from home. The same home that beckons for my attention, needing laundry, floors, dishes done.

As a blogger it is tempting to live life for the content of the blog, instead of truly living our life. Though, my words are not lacking, I notice when my walk is. And if I am not living what I’m writing, I am not living authentically.

The number one problem of leaders in my generation is that they traffic un-lived truth.” — D.L. Moody

Trafficking un-lived truth — for more blog traffic? May it never be.

Here are some safeguards I have in place to prevent neglect of my own personal growth.

  • Accountability: It can be a scary thing to give your spouse, children or a friend permission to speak into your life when they notice something isn’t right, but there is safety in it, too.
  • Allowance: I allow myself regular blog breaks. My guideline is to take every 7th week off of social networking and blogging. It helps me refocus, renew and keep my priorities in order; God, family, friends and blog.
  • Awareness: Just like our bellies remind us with hunger pangs we need to eat, our souls do the same. When I am becoming weak, impatient, clouded or negative I know I’m growing hungry and need nourishment — for me, not more blog content.
Have you ever found yourself tending more to the growth of your blog than your own personal growth? What is your plan for personal growth?

journeying with you,

Michele-Lyn at A Life Surrendered

Comments

  1. This is so timely for me. I know that God is calling me to rest more, to embrace times of solitude, away from all the noise. I know that I will be a better wife, mama and blogger for doing so.

    • Barbie,

      Oh, I know exactly what you mean. I always think, if Jesus had to, how much more do I. And I’ve read all of your precious, heart-felt, genuine comments on my blog. I have yet to reply, but I read and I pray and I treasure you. After the series I will get to replying. Love you so very much, Barbie!

  2. Wow-I don’t know how you did 31 straight days. I did 7 once, and I lost control of my personal to-do’s and relationships! Wonderful wisdom as always, Michele-Lyn. Living for the blog just doesn’t work out in the long run!

    • Kim,

      It could be easy to get swallowed up by so much writing. I imagine book writing is exponentially more challenging. 🙂 I did a lot of pre-planning and also gained the support of my family, first. But still, I have to be careful not to neglect home. 🙂

    • Thank you 🙂 And yes, awareness! I think that we can tell when something is just not right, also the Holy Spirit nudges us. We just have to be willing to yield, and eat. 🙂

  5. This is such a good reminder, I find it’s almost impossible for me to blog though when I neglect my own devotional time. Balance is difficult for all of us no matter what we’re spending our time on. It’s so easy to keep pushing our own spiritual lives to the back burner when, we as women are always serving others.

  6. This speaks volumes to me today! I am rekindling my passion for blogging, attempting to generate “likes” and post responses, so much so that I think sometimes I have forgotten the motivation- God’s desire for me to spread the Gospel and to encourage His people towards love and regeneration. I forget to fill myself and take in the living waters, staying focused on this world and not the eternal. Your reminder was bitter sweet- thank you 🙂

    • Shannon,

      Oh, I know. It’s is easy for all of us to get pulled in many different directions on the web. God is faithful to lead us, when we begin to lose sight of why we are here to begin with — to be a light. Grace… always grace. 🙂

  7. I’ve never heard that Moody quote, but, wow! powerful! I don’t think I can be reminded of this enough. Such practical suggestions too–love your plan for scheduled breaks.

    • Erika,

      I agree! They are powerful words of truth I will not forget, Lord willing. Perhaps I will post the quote on my laptop. 🙂 And the blog breaks, I love! And I see growth on the blog, even when I’m silent. God is faithful.

  8. Wow, Michele-Lyn — 31 straight days? I’m glad the Lord hasn’t called me to that! You make a great point about growing our blogs at the expense of growing our SELVES. I confess I’ve been guilty too many times, checking and fretting over stats. The Lord called me to pull away from too many link-ups this year for the very reasons you mention. I’m working for balance and focus this year.

    Thanks for sharing such a convicting post!
    Hugs, Susan

    • Susan,

      Yes, 31 days + more. I had a few guest posts in between. I do believe God is faithful to lead us, and sometimes the hardest part is not knowing what to do, but actually doing it. I also pulled away from link-ups and even disabled comments for a month. Each of us is different, eh? I don’t want to live with any regrets. 🙂

    • Lara,

      Yes, Moody’s quote stopped me in my tracks, and I immediately thought of my own blog traffic. This perhaps, will be my prayer. May it never be that I traffic un-lived truth. By grace…

  10. I must admit (sheepishly) that my first thought was… oh, great, sounds good, but then I will NEVER find time to write. And then I opened my other blog e-mail and Micha Boyett said this (hmm… coincidence?): “I need to lean into Enough. Time wants to show me that there is enough of twenty-four hours to go around. Christ wants to show me that there is enough of him to widen my whole heart.”

    Just wanted to to share this.

    • Jen,

      So good! Enough time to do what God has requested of us. I often assess my workload based on this — if I’m finding myself with little time to do my to-do’s, then perhaps I’ve added more to the list than God has asked. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

  11. This is great Michele-Lyn! Can’t be so busy serving that you forget to feed yourself. I have gotten particularly strict with myself… turning off the computer at set times, waking up early early so I can pray and read my Bible before I ever even think of writing… it helps! I do some much more with my little bit of time when I am full than I could ever do with a ton of time when I am starving.

    • Amanda,

      Your last line is so full of wisdom. It’s a temptation to think otherwise, is it not? I have to guard myself as well. I like your guideline. There’s safety in them — guarding your heart with all diligence. That’s what your comment makes me think of. Thank you. 🙂

  15. Yes, sweet sister, Ive been hearing the same thing. I did a 31 Day write between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it is draining _ but the rewards are so very endearing as you hear person after person, whisper in their comments…”yea, me too.’ Keep up the work you are so gifted at doing.

  16. Oh I love this. The first years of being saved my husband and I were in a church that was so dead and we were too starving ourselves to understand what the problem was. But in the deep hunger we became desperate for Him and the Light began to show us the path out. DL Moody’s quote sums up our experience which was a hard, but good teacher. Thankfully my husband has understood “living by practice what some just teach in principal.” – -Living love. Life on life. Life lived real and messy. Loved your post. It has what I call the “DNA of the Holy Spirit.” -Thank you.

  17. I understand 🙂 I always enjoy your transparency for His glory. This has been a great journey with you–this is my first series {and I’m behind on reading your posts} but God has used you many times to encourage my walk with Him. I thank God for you and I’m praying for you my surrendered sister!

    • Arcelia,

      Thank you for your faithful encouragement, friend! No worries you are behind on the series. I am grateful you have read at all. 🙂 Thank you for your prayers! Blessings to you. 🙂

  18. “Though, my words are not lacking, I notice when my walk is. And if I am not living what I’m writing, I am not living authentically.” Amen sister! Thanks for such a lovely and inspiring post! 🙂

    • Jenn,

      Yeah, I keep saying that line to myself. All these words, they hold me accountable to live an authentic life where no readers will ever see. Thank you, too. 🙂

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