I opened my blog this morning to discover an anonymous comment on something I wrote a year ago, it commenting on attending a memorial service for one of Jan’s co-workers, someone she deeply admired, and from a distance, so did I.
It was a Catholic service and I chose to give a running account of my experience of the service.
Over the past year it received four or five comments, all negative. My clinical read on the service annoyed several people, particularly my theological asides.
However this morning the person who wrote and complained of it said they were a close relative. And that person requested I remove the post.
I quickly re-read it and thought it really did lack sensitivity to people mourning their loss.
So, it’s gone…
I believe this is the first time I’ve removed one of my entries, certainly so far out from posting. (I do for many posts rewrite over the next couple of hours, but that’s a different kettle of fish…)
Quite to my surprise, I find this blogging enterprise an important part of my life. I began it in order to keep in touch with my congregation while on sabbatical. But that’s several years gone now.
It turns out I have lots to say on a couple of subjects. Some of my reflections some people have found useful. I seem also to have pissed some people off over the last few years. Mostly I have no regrets. This has become an important part of my ministry, as I see it. But in this process even as I have no intention of pretending something’s right when by my best lights its not, I don’t need to be snarky along the way.
I’m reluctant to apologize for the post, I said nothing that doesn’t seem true to me a year later.
But sometimes being right isn’t enough…
Another one of those little lessons in life. I hope my learning curve hasn’t been too hurtful for others. There’s enough pain the world without unnecessarily adding any…
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