Are You Leaving?

A weird thing has happened here at my blog this past week. Over 20 people unsubscribed from getting the blog posts via email. Now, for bloggers who have thousands of subscribers, that’s probably a typical day. But for a guy with much smaller numbers, it represents a significant amount of people. It has me wondering why so many picked this past week to leave the blog.

After all, it’s not like I posted a lot last week. I had two posts. Neither was all that offensive or challenging. Anyway, it has me shaking my head in confusion.

I could try and be all spiritual and suggest that even Jesus has people hit the “unsubscribe” button. John 6:60–71 tells the story of people being offended by Jesus’ teaching. In the end, many turned away and left him. Jesus response was to turn to the Twelve and ask if they are going to leave also. Peter responds by asking, “Where would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Smart man, that Peter. So, yes, I could look to Jesus as comfort for all these unsubscribers and thank him for walking the same path as I am now experiencing. But, that would be silly, foolish, ridiculous … right?

To be honest, I think I know why people are moving on from the blog. Those who have followed me long enough know that I have wrestled with how to use this blog. At times, the primary focus of it was my experience as a biker preacher. Other times, I used the blog to just share personal stories from the homefront. These days, I’m focusing more on having the blog be an extension of the two churches I’m pastoring. I like where it’s at these days and feel good moving forward that it’s the right focus … at least for now.

Still, no one likes to see so many unfollow. I could suggest that you’d make me feel a lot better if you would recommend the blog to a few friends. But, that would be grovelling, right? So, I wont do that.

So, instead, let me ask you: How do you deal with rejection?

  • Anonymous

    Are you sure those ppl don’t also RSS your feed? I used to subscribe to a blog via RSS AND get the emails… and I didn’t need the emails because I check my Google Reader daily. Some people might also see your post via Twitter (that’s usually where I click from) or Facebook, so again, email isn’t necessary.

  • Marianne Reil

    no I have not unsubscribed — Im in for the long run.
    but I have no helpful advice unless you were a girl.
    My rejection limits have been stretched recently.
    No job for 4 months now, then I had a date after not having had one for I cant remember how long and it doesnt look like I’ll get a second one.
    so for me — chick flick — chocolate — cheeses — tea — yes all at once sometimes.
    Probably not very helpful — hey you’ve got a bike — ride it out of your system. God is your source!

  • http://www.robdale.ca Rob Dale

    Hey Lydia,

    I use Feedburner for both RSS and Email subscriptions, so the number would include both. It could be people unsubscribing from one or the other, but that’s a lot for one week.

  • http://www.robdale.ca Rob Dale

    Marianne, I love your attitude and humour. Stay positive, God knows your situation!

  • Sailor

    Leaving? Hey, no way. I don’t subscribe to a lot of blogs… I don’t feel like I have the time to read too many… but I do and will continue to read yours. Always interesting, I enjoy your posts very much. Sometimes I forward them along to family or friends if I think they are related to something they may be interested in. I like having a chance to introduce our pastor in this way to people who don’t attend Bikers Church (and maybe never will). And besides, I see you at least once a week, so that’s a good question.…. where would I go? :-)

  • Anonymous

    Marianne, I love your heart. Keep the humour and know that God will bring these things to pass in his time!

  • Anonymous

    Hey Lydia, I use Feedburner to manage both RSS and email subscriptions, so they count they provide includes both. You’re right, that some may have unsubscribed from one or the other because they were getting both, but that’s a lot of people to do it all the same week.