What I Think of "Lurkers"

"Standing on the Outside Looking In"

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There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

... a time to be silent and a time to speak.

- Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7




Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

- Psalm 19:14

This blog has been around for three years already. Honestly, having this blog has served a good purpose: it has helped me understand more of the sacred journey that I'm on, and it has clarified, shed light on the events in my past, as well as in my present.

A plus factor in having a blog are readers who really care about what is going in my life. This has been a big encouragement to me. Their perspective, often shared with me through the comments they leave, or through personal email, has certainly been beneficial. Blog friends who care enough to speak what is on their heart have made blogging more rewarding and interesting, they have added sweetness and spice to the experience.

No blog is an island...

I believe that a blog is a two-way street, thriving on a "give and receive" relationship, a healthy exchange of ideas, a meeting, as well as a linking, of hearts and minds.

But blogging has its merits, as well as its downside.

I have tried to be as honest as this kind of forum can permit me to be. Being too vague or general produces superficial posts - and if this blog will only let people wade and romp about in the shallow waters of my life, then I might as well "close shop."

The choice is mine: blogging has required of me an investment of my time, effort, and spiritual energy.

Which is the real reason why I want to talk about lurkers on this post.

I never knew there was such a thing called "lurking" on the internet. Eventually I did find out what it means, and I was somewhat amused at the definition of the term.

A lurker, in internet jargon, refers to someone who reads or observes an ongoing discussion without participating, as in an internet newsgroup, chatroom, or blog.

The term is quite appropriately used, in my humble opinion.

Dictionary.com defines the verb lurk this way:

1. to lie or wait in concealment, as a person in ambush; remain in or around a place secretly or furtively.

2. to go furtively; slink, steal.

3. to exist unperceived or unsuspected.


Some synonyms for this word are: lurk, skulk, sneak, prowl.

There really are no hard and fast rules on cyberspace.

Facts are being twisted all the time, copyright laws being violated; infringement is a day to day occurrence... identity theft is a real possibility.

So who can effectively act as an internet police to make sure that privacy is safeguarded? No one, really.

However, I am of the firm belief that the internet can be redeemed... used for the glory of God to promote His cause and propagate His message.

That is one main reason I have continued to keep this blog going. I maintain it in the hope that visitors who end up reading the words I have written and viewing the photographs I have taken will be blessed and encouraged. Each time I put up a post I do so believing that someone needs to read what I have written and hoping that anyone visiting my blog will leave refreshed and lifted up.

It would be such a blessing to me if the readers who come would leave even just a line of comment once in a while, just for the connection and personal touch. I'm not concerned about those who come once or twice and never return, I am referring to one or two persons who visit my blog place up to five or six times a day, and after all these months, have never bothered to introduce himself, or herself, to me.

Having said all that, I do need to make myself clear. No one is being blamed for choosing to remain hidden or anonymous. That is a freedom we all are entitled to enjoy.

And having made the decision to go public on a blog, I am well aware of the fact that certain consequences follow. To have "lurkers" on one's little corner of the cyberspace is inevitable.

And I am not really after comments per se. After all, to receive comments is not the reason this blog exists. But to be honest, it warms my heart to know how people feel. A comment box is like some kind of a dialogue box, a venue for giving feedback, a forum that allows conversation to take place.

There is a time to be silent, but there is also a time to stand up and be recognized. I believe due courtesy, even on cyberspace, is still possible.

Surely there must be a reason for the frequent visits. It would be good to know.

The picture above is borrowed from a website that showed up when I googled the phrase, "standing on the outside looking in."

A lurker is like someone who stands outside the window of my home, looks inside, goes around the yard, looks inside another window, observes what is going on... and then leaves without saying a word!

I must admit that sometimes I get a creepy feeling.

But it is a fear that I need to let go of, something that I have to entrust to God.

If people aren't revealing who they are or what they feel, then it has to be the least of my worries. In humility, I need to let go of certain expectations... enjoy what is there, not focus on what isn't there!

I have become friends with a number of wonderful people through my blog. They have shared what is on their heart by initially leaving a comment or two, and in many cases, the friendship has extended already to exchanging letters via email, and even sending gifts through the postal service.

In a place as open as the world wide web, I can only continue to blog with confidence knowing that it is my God who puts a hedge of protection around me.

May every part of this blog be covered by the hand of God. May He station sentinels to protect it from malicious intent. May readers come frequently only because they are drawn to words of life and truth.

In the name of Jesus I break the power of any demonic scheme or demonic assignment over this blog. I declare that this blog is used for the sole purpose of being a redemptive agent in the murky and turbulent waters of our world.

It won't be long, though. Jesus is coming soon. Maranatha!

The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy...
Jeus came that we may have life, and have it abundantly!

I will not be deterred or intimidated. I will continue to write posts with a sense of purpose.

To anyone who happens to land in this place and takes offense at what is written here, I say, "Go in peace."

To all readers, I say:

"You are welcome in this place. May you find it to be a safe place where you are nurtured. May you experience God's healing presence here."

May all visitors to this blog come to have a taste of the abundant life that flows freely from the heart of Jesus!

Thank you for stopping by.

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