It's Your Turn

Now that the Express has returned to the Net of the living, allow me to remind you of one of its valuable, though underused features: the comments link.

Below the horizontal line that lies directly beneath the prayers that close Express posts is a line of text which reports the time of the post’s arrival on the blog (left side), and a small envelope icon you can use to e-mail a link to that post (right side). In between the time report and the envelope icon is the comments link, which will always tell you how many comments have been posted to that piece. [Another way of knowing which posts have received comments is to review the list that is the third item down in the column on the left side of this Web page.]

You should click the comments link if either or both of the following are true:
1) The link reports one or more comments already posted –
YOU SHOULD READ WHAT OTHERS HAVE WRITTEN!
2) You have a comment, question, curiosity, objection, praise, protest, or random thought in reaction to my post and/or one or more of the comments –
YOU SHOULD SHARE IT WITH US!

Blogs are best when original posters initiate conversations, when readers react and by their posted reactions create a digital dialogue. However astute the blogger, his or her readers ALWAYS improve a blog by their comments, at times salvaging posts from the ash heap of irrelevance by the new avenues of reflections their reactions create. Peruse other blogs and I bet you’ll decide that the comments are often more interesting than the original post (of course, that will never be the case in this blog, but the general principle is worth noting, nonetheless).... [Hee. Hee.]

I pray that my words prompt you to think, perhaps even to grow. I hope that at least every now and then you read something here that contributes to your spiritual journey. But my greater hope is that when on the premises of the Express, you will find cause to contribute to our spiritual journeys via your comments.

You don’t have to agree with me or other commenters. You don’t have to be a “good writer.” You don’t have to stay on point. You don’t have to say anything profound. You don’t have to make sense. You don’t even have to identify yourself! Just tell us what's on your mind or in your heart. [Once you click the comments link you will find any previously posted comments, and a box in which to type your own response, if you desire. Below the box is a set of options that includes “Anonymous,” the use of which will assure you that no one – including me – will know your identity. If instead you click the “Name/URL” circle, a little box will open in which you can identify yourself - and even there you could use an alias!]

I find value in the Express; I hope you do, as well. I hope you will add value to the Express by using the comments link.

Blessings,
Bill