I'm Back, Sort Of

So, last week a Jesuit friend asked me, “Do you miss the blog?” My answer, though I think this was the first time I articulated it, was quick and, given my experience of the last month and a half or so, unsurprising: “Not at all.” Now, before you take offense, this is not to say that I don’t miss my interaction with the many wonderful people that make up my “blogging community.” And the e-mails that I’ve received lately from many of you have served to remind me of my affection for you. But I think it was especially during the uproar over the Pope’s recent remarks that it really hit me—how refreshing it was not to be connected to the Catholic blogosphere during such a moment. How refreshing it was to be free of the exaggerated sense of importance that so many things take on in that milieu. I just tried to read a couple of blogs, even some of my favorite ones, and I couldn’t generate a lot of energy or interest. I know now that it is unlikely that I will return to the level of blog reading/writing that I had gotten to. And I’m still unsure, as a result, what shape this blog might take from this point forward. Since Doubleday has now taken to sending me free books, I suppose I’ll have to throw up the occasional book review. So, look for some comments on Saints Behaving Badly and The Catholic Home (which just arrived yesterday) some time in the near future. What you can count on is that my blogging will be far from regular, more sporadic than before. My blogging will also less concerned with the fights, arguments and rants of fellow bloggers (as I will be reading fewer blogs, and with far less frequency). It’s not because I don’t love you, I just need to focus a lot of my energy on other things as I prepare to be ordained a deacon in a year, and a priest some eight months after that. I’ve got about 10-15 hours of reading to do each week for class, not to mention the commitments of my apostolic work. There are also class papers, articles and books to write. Taking a break from the blog has allowed me to find some balance in all that (except, of course, this week which is going to be crazy!). I need to try to maintain that balance.

So, expect to hear from me from time to time, but in ways that will be a little more low-key. My deepest thanks for all your expressions of support and encouragement! God bless you.