Blogging testimonial

RevHRod posted a Friday Five that perfectly fits with a post I have been composing in my head for a few weeks now. Thinking about how I joined the blogosphere and about telling my story. So thank you so much for the prompt and the interesting questions below:

So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog?

My blogging name is a phonetic version of my initials and the name of my blog - well that involves criticism of my denomination but I have voiced it to the State Moderator and anyone who knows me reasonably well knows about my set the bird free mantra. The Uniting Church in Australia was born out of a sincere and real commitment to an ecumenical vision in 1977, bringing together the Congregational Union, the Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church. Similar to the UCC in the USA and the URC in the UK. The Basis of Union is an excellent document that has had its own evangelistic effect, bringing people into this new denomination. All this I admire and respect. My difficulty when I first came to Australia was with the logo. Despite an impeccable statement of meaning, the flame/bird seems imprisoned within the heavy black outlines. Over time of course I have found pockets of creativity and freedom and inclusiveness. I have even found some places like Wesley Mission that have modified the logo. My passion persists in the name of this blog and I do long to see the fullness of Godde reflected in the week-by-week worship and the day-by-day living of this denomination born in such hope and enriched with such potential.

Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there?

No. I cannot bring myself to give my family members code names or even to talk about them much in my blog. I feel irritated by the standard ones (DD, DS, DH etc). I do like reading other people's ones (like Songbird's Princess who is searching for a new on-line identity) and Sally's joyful sharing of her family stories, but I'm somehow more reluctant!

What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun?

Red Wine and Garlic, Don't eat alone, Anchors and Masts, Pacific Highlander, Yearning for God (I just love Jan's washing line signature pic),

What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals of course!

Eternal Echoes. Abbey of the Arts, and the poetry dialogue between Black Pete and the Midwesterner

Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why?

This is the picture that started it all! Short answer - Sally at Eternal Echoes. Long answer: Blogging - I'd heard the word and knew some people did it but really didn't know what it was all about and had never read one. Except - now I think about it - Saartje who I discovered when looking for cute knitting patterns one time. But back to the main story! I was leader of a Lent Event study group and looking for a illustration of the 'woman at the well' A google image search found this brilliant picture by He Qi @ Eternal Echoes . Read Sally's blog accompanying it and loved it. Bookmarked the page. Went back to visit fairly regularly. Visited some of her 'fellow travellers.' Began to respond in comments. Found some of my comments were almost as long as the blogs. So thought - maybe I could give this a go. Sally was SOOOOOO encouraging with my first tentative posts. Then I was hooked really and have met new cyber friends through a not-completely-but-fairly random snowballing method. I still have concerns that I am living in a virtual reality and avoiding relationships I should be nurturing in person. The time I spend on-line has increased and there are questions about my priorities. But all-in-all blogging is a positive experience and has provided some of the creative opportunity that I so craved when I coined the title.

Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks?

No I haven't. although I have made snail mail contact with a handful. Bavelry has a card exchange group which is fun to add a personal contact dimension. Today I was both sad and glad to read in the headlines of the death of Olive Riley - purportedly the world's oldest blogger. Maybe you've already heard the news. This wonderful woman lived just up the coast from me yet tonight is the first time I've heard of her. This strengthens my resolve to develop my 'Australian' blogging network as well as continuing the journey with my 'up over' friends.