Blogging Cliques - A Follow-Up.

Last week I wrote a post about cliques in the blogosphere. Thank you to those of you who took the time to read and comment. I appreciate all the feedback.

While reading some of your comments on this post, however, I began to sense something. I began to fear that the purpose of my post may have been misunderstood...that the point I was trying to make may have been missed.

So bear with me for a moment while I make a few clarifications.

My post wasn't about numbers. The fact that so many readers seemed to think it was means that I did a poor job of communicating. For that, I apologize.

My post wasn't a plea for more comments, more re-tweets, or more fans on Facebook. I'm actually very happy with the number of followers my blog has, and my Facebook fan page is growing everyday.

My post wasn't intended to imply that "no one ever comments on my posts", because that's clearly not the case. 

And my post was not meant to suggest that I don't have "blogging buddies". I certainly do, and I value those relationships. I've "met" a lot of wonderful people through the world of blogging, and I'm so very grateful and blessed to count them as friends.

So that's what my post wasn't meant to imply. 

What my post was meant to convey was my own personal experience with what I view as a blogging "clique". Let me explain.

There is a particular group of Christian bloggers that I admire. I've been reading most of their blogs for over a year. I also follow them on Twitter. I admire many of them for their strength, their faith, and their ability to come through some amazingly difficult life situations. So many of them have inspired me on more than one occasion.

I've tried to forge friendships with some of these bloggers by faithfully commenting on their posts, replying to their tweets, and even friending some of them on Facebook.

But no matter what I do, I've been unable to penetrate their little circle.

My tweets to a few of them almost always go unacknowledged. Most of them have never commented on a post on my blog. And often, they don't even respond to the comments I leave on their blogs.

They've got their own little inner circle, or clique, that I have been unable to become a part of. And I'll be honest - that has, at times, bothered me.

Am I not good enough? Are my posts not witty enough? Are my tweets boring? Am I not genuine? Do they question my faith?

(These are rhetorical questions.)

I don't know. I don't know why none of them seem interested in building a deeper friendship with me.

But you know what?

I'm over it.

I've been reflecting on it, and I realize something: Friendship, whether online or in real life, shouldn't be a struggle.

Friendship should come naturally because two people admire and respect one another.

True friendship shouldn't be one-sided, with one party doing all the work.

True friendship isn't me convincing you that we should be friends. It's both of us wanting to be friends because we recognize that we like each other, have mutual respect for one another, and share common interests.

It's just that simple.

So rather than continue to try to penetrate the "circle of trust" of a group that obviously isn't all that interested in me, I realize my energies are better focused on bringing glory to my God, and nurturing the friendships I already have.

Because for me, blogging isn't about numbers. It's not about how many followers I have - it's about the connection I have with them.

It isn't about how many comments I get on a post - because even one comment shows me that someone was moved by my words, and that's really what matters.

It's not about how many sponsors my blog has, or how much money I can make - all of that means absolutely nothing if my written words aren't impacting someone in a meaningful way.

I didn't start blogging so that I could become tight friends with the popular bloggers in my niche.

I started blogging because I wanted to make a difference. I wanted my experiences to help someone else.

I started blogging because I wanted to connect. Share. Build relationships.

Period.

One of the best comments on last week's post was from Stephanie, who said: "... I have just come to the place where I have to be me and do what I can and God will bring the people to my blog whom he desires..."

I thought about Stephanie's words, and I realized something: God has given me some great blogging friendships with wonderful people - YOU know who you are. They've impacted me, and I pray that in some small way, I've made a difference in their lives as well.

So yes, I do believe that there are cliques in the world of blogging, even among Christian bloggers. But am I going to let that bother me? No. I'm going to continue to be me. I'm going to be happy with the wonderful connections I have made, and I'm going to continue to move forward. In faith.

What are YOU going to do?