I am reading old correspondences again, counting my blessings, praying that I can always keep my promises to my grandmother.

A dear, dear friend used to have this for her email signature:

If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy.

If you write for men – you may make some money and you may give someone a little joy and you may make a noise in the world, for a little while.

If you write only for yourself you can read what you yourself have written and after ten minutes you will be so disgusted you will wish that you were dead.

Excerpted from New Seeds of  Contemplation by Thomas Merton.