As you know, I posted twice about Cardinal Schonborn on January 14, and once again on January 15. All these posts were considered, balanced and informative. I had 1 comment. Fr Blake also posted on Schonborn on Jan 15, but only to report that the Cardinal had private Audience with the Pope that morning, (which I had already advertised before it took place). Father's post invited comment as to why this meeting had happened, a question I had already asked. He had 16 or 17 comments, most of which displayed ignorance of the rules of ecclesial courtesy, which Fr Blake has corrected in his own combox. DO NOT GET ME WRONG. I'M ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT FATHER BLAKE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT MY POSTS WHICH PREDATED HIS. He knows me personally and my blog is on his sidebar list. However I know he is just too busy to read me.
Father Blake is a 'big blogger', respected and popular. Absolutely right that he should be. I read him at least once a day myself and he is brilliant.. However, this instance proves that for a small blog like mine, it is very difficult to be noticed. One needs the occasional 'leg up' from the 'big boys' if one's efforts are to be worthwhile the expense of care and time one puts into the composition of posts, not to mention the careful research that I always do. On this occasion, and I believe on this important subject, I think my postings would have been more useful to the commenters on Father's own post. But only one of them knows about me, and she obviously hasn't read me on the subject of Cardinal Schonborn.
It is dispiriting and at the moment I'm wondering whether I should close this Oasis, but CERTAINLY NOT THE SPIRITUAL MOTHERS OF PRIESTS BLOG, and spend more time in the garden. The other thing is that people who do not run blogs themselves do not realise, as 'Fr Mildew' has twice said in recent months, that comments are the lifeblood of blogs, even if they are only to say that you agree with what the blog author has written. The statcounter tells me that my readership is fair and increasing, but that is certainly not reflected in the com box, except by a very few 'faithfuls' to whom I extend my heartfelt gratitude. You andd I know who you are!
I'm now going to 'sleep on it' and continue worrying AND PRAYING about the things which would have been in my next post, namely a) the Holy Father's visit to the Rome Synagogue tomorrow b) the upcoming ad limina visits to Rome of the English, Welsh and Scottish bishops c) the Pope's visit to England and Scotland in the autumn of the current year.
As always, God bless all here.
P.S. I have to say that this is not the first time such a thing has happened, although the previous occasions involved other blogs.
12 comments:
Jane,
Understand your frustration!The closure of "Oasis"would be a loss for me,and I suspect many other silent people.Always agree with your posts,and enjoy reading about The Holy Father's next move.Read your blog every day ,and always look forward to your next post.Understand about comments,but I think you probably touch more peoples lives than you realise...Besides which you are good at blogging!!!!!!Hope you dont close!
Don't give up the blog, Jane.
Don`t go! This is the first time I`ve commented here but I do read you.
Fr. Michael, Sandy and Mac:
Thank you for your encouragement. Wanted to say this before I climb 'the wooden hill to Bedfordhire' which I really am going to do now, and with the Lord's help will live to fight another blogging day!
Jane - don't be disheartened.
The question I want to ask is why didn't you leave a comment on Fr Blake's posts to direct people reading there to your posts on 'oasis'?
One of the great things about blogs is that everyone has a different take on things, and it's a great opportunity for us to say "not my will but Thine be done" when we get no response in the combox, or something that seems to us to go off on a tangent.
Blogging is a great way of witnessing to the truth, and if we don't get responses it is all the more of a reminder to us how difficult it must be for priests and religious and others who have worked for years for causes that noone wants to know about.
Maybe you should ask James Preece how he gets pluses and minuses from people who are too shy to leave comments!
Jane, Agree absolutely with 'Sandy'- your posts are interesting, informative, and different, and I'm sure are appreciated by many more people than the lack of 'comments' might suggest. There are many other excellent blog-sites with superb 'posts' which often fail to elicit comments, but it doesn't mean that the posts are not read. You do a great job Jane, please don't go! Perhaps you are pushing yourself too hard by trying to post too often? Maybe one post a week or fortnight, would take the pressure off? Best wishes. Brian.
Dear Jane, Please do not deprive us of the Oasis! I, for one, look forward to reading you day after day. You really do offer an oasis to souls, even if many of them may not be the "commenting" sort! Both the garden and the blog are important! With my blessing. Father Mark
Phew! Glad to hear that you are going to continue Jane. That was near thing ... although I do understand how frustrating it can be when no one comments.
My heartfelt thanks to you all for commenting so supportively. Will post again later today - and answer Epsilon's question. Now, it's time to get ready for the Holy Father's Angelus.
God bless you all, and thanks again.
I only just discovered your effort last night, so I cannot comment much yet.
But I want to join the chorus of encouragement here.
Because from from what I have seen I would very much hope you would continue.
First impressions feel very good, much of interest and importance here.
Thank you and God bless you ...
Do continue and don't be disheartened. Sometimes, people don't comment because they come to learn, and would rather not show ignorance and spoil the spirit of the posting.
I like your posts, don't quit.
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