When I started this blog, I signed up for the blogging university related to the host site. It was my hat tip to learning about this process and holding myself accountable to continue my own development.
So, the assignments started coming. Write an “About Me” page. Do this, do that. Suddenly my time seemed so much less and I set aside my writing. After all, I never meant to blog every day or even every week, although the latter was a good goal. Well, that’s what I thought.
Then, a new assignment arrived in my inbox. Identify to whom I am writing. “Who is your audience?” Oh. Well.
I never really thought about it.
I understand the question. In discussions with others about projects and ministries, I ask a similar question. Ministry involves people, so when we begin a project or ministry I ask myself or others, “To whom is this directed? Who are we serving? Why are we doing this?”
Later, as we evaluate the effectiveness of our endeavors, it helps us to focus our evaluation by considering whether we addressed the needs of our target group. I have run into this same thing in congregational and organizational development. “We cannot be effective in growing this congregation (organization) if we do not identify our target audience.” This is the approach of marketers who are good at their work. So, we define our target audience, the ones who we want to populate our group or toward whom we direct our efforts. We need people who need us.
But, we also need people who can sustain us. There has to be someone who buys into our efforts and is willing to uphold and support us.
This is where it gets sticky for me.
Balancing the needs of those who need us with those who can sustain us can be a very tricky thing. If we are to follow Christ, we are called to attend to the needs of those who have little or no power, financial resources or anything. But, to do so requires resources.
I get this. I understand that this has to happen. What gets me is that in trying to balance these two groups, we can inadvertantly become unbalanced.
When this happens we become ineffective. We make our sustainers our target group and the powerless fall away. Someone gets hurt, usually the people who have little to nothing. The ones who need us.
I would rather just wander from town to town being Christ to folks. I just wanna be who I am.
Age, if not wisdom, tells me that we are not self-sustaining. This is supported by my understanding of faith. I cannot live it alone. I need you and others to help me grow. Nevertheless, there is a limit to what we can do with and for each other. Sometimes we have to step out, say and do things that challenge ourselves and others, trusting that we will continue to be supported.
Which brings me back to this blog. I suppose that I have identified my target audience. It is you. I have a vague idea who you are, but I am not writing to curry your favor. I am writing for two reasons. First, after over sixty years of life (over thirty as an Episcopal priest), I am arrogant enough to think that I have something to say. I am not arrogant enough, however, to think that you or anyone else needs to hear me. You may read me because I harmonize with you or for some other reason. This is a bit like when I am explaining things to my dog and cat and they are looking at me like, “Sure. We get it”. Then, I realize that I am preaching to the choir.
Moreso, I have this nagging belief that as I develop this spiritual discipline of writing that through opening myself to you, I can find myself more open to God and be who I truly am and less who I want others to think that I am.
If so, maybe, just maybe I can be who I need to be to others, too.