I started this website for two reasons. One was simply that I felt called to. Over and over I felt God whispering to me…write. Now, this didn’t come out of the blue, I’ve been writing off and on for years. Remember Xanga sites? Yeah, I rode that train. In second grade we had to write our own book, and I ended up writing two because I couldn’t decide which storyline to go with. For a long time I didn’t think I had anything to say, didn’t have anyone who would listen, and didn’t have any time. But the voice wouldn’t stop, and eventually I listened.
The second reason was simply to help. People like to talk to me, which I love. Sometimes it seemed like I was saying the same things to lots of people: my thoughts on community, applying the gospel to our lives, or simply sending out the same recipe to tons of different people. So I thought I would consolidate it all into one space, a source of help and a resource for others. My prayer was that my words would be an encouragement and help give people a voice who were struggling to find their own words, just like many writers have done for me.
I didn’t envision making a ton of money off this blog (I don’t make any, actually), or becoming popular (which is good, since I’m not). I kept telling myself I had an audience of one. Each time I wrote, I was writing for one person. Often it was myself…to help me figure out how I felt about something, or letting God sanctify me through the words I was preaching to my own heart. I was always hoping to glorify God with the words that I wrote…pointing others to Him, or simply offering up my own creativity as an act of worship. Sometimes it was just one person…there was a message on my heart for one in particular person, often who I would learn about at a later point. I heard from you…how that one post encouraged you, gave you words, helped you heal, or simply solved a breakfast issue.
The intended audience was always one…me, God, or you.
photo courtesy of Jana Miller
As much as that’s been my intention for writing and life, often I’m distracted.
I think we all tend to get distracted by the group mentality and not make one enough. I know even in my heart to help, often I don’t feel like just helping one person once a day is enough. I feel this ridiculous weight to solve and fix it all for everyone. Helping one is enough.
Sometimes I log on to my site and see that there hasn’t been as many clicks or shares this week. I start analyzing the stats and what it is that people want more of, and I get distracted by the masses. I write for an audience of one, not to make people happy or to say what they want to hear, but to encourage just one.
And unfortunately, I find myself performing for more than an audience of one. I get sucked into what everyone is doing, or what my people want from me. Sometimes the way I dress, the pressures I feel, or the obligations I allow in my day tell me I’m focusing on the masses and not just an audience of one.
One is a lot more manageable than the masses.
It’s a lot easier to focus on one.
It’s a lot easier to glorify God when I’m just listening to His voice and not lots of other voices.
Do the hard Thing today and Make One Enough. Maybe you just help one person today. Help the cashier smile, your kid with the tough math problem, a co-worker feel like someone cares…one is enough. Maybe you need to check you’re decisions and how you’re living…not based off others opinions, thoughts and expectations, but just on God’s and what He is guiding you towards…He is enough. Or maybe the one is you, you’re close to you’re breaking point and overwhelmed and you just need to step back/take a break/find ways you can unwind, destress and get back to a place where you can focus on loving God and others well…taking care of you today can be enough.
Make One Enough.
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This post is part of the #write31days challenge hosted by The Nester.
Click here to read all the posts in the 31 days of Doing the Hard Thing series.
Thanks for the mention! Loving your series 🙂