I'm been pondering social media. The role it currently plays and should play in our lives. Last year I read "The Life I Discovered Inside 13 Days Without Social Media" and it sparked my interest. How did she do it? How impossible ... no online interaction for almost 2 weeks?! But all that interaction just gone; that's can't work in the 21st century! I tossed the idea aside with the thought
Well, I could never do it , so no point in even considering it.
And then I realized how depended I was on the internet.
There's no intrinsic problem with the internet. There is so much good that it achieves, whether for information or entertainment. I have friendships with so many people today that I wouldn't know half as well without emails, Facebook, or blogs. But over the last couple months, I've discovered how media - Facebook especially - can distract from simply living in the moment. I became obsessed with posting pictures, "liking" other people's statuses, subscribing to hundreds of blogs and seeking a "following" on my own. Cut back? Never! This is the age of technology, so I must be involved. I go online to "stay in touch", and often only succeed in isolating myself.
Recently, one of my good friends decided to quit Facebook, for many excellent reasons. Upon hearing this, my first thought was "Oh no! How are we going to stay in touch? I won't know how he's doing! We'll lose all contact and won't be friends anymore.." I wish I could say I'm exaggerating, but this was literally my thought process at the time.
Well, over the last three weeks of this friend being Facebook-less, I'm happy to say that we've been in contact and, surprise! we're still friends. Our contact has shifted from Facebook messages to emails and texts, and honestly? I think it's better this way. Somehow, those emails and texts seem more personal. As pathetic and childish as it seems, I've learned a much-needed lesson that Facebook isn't necessary for true friendship.
Just yesterday, an acquaintance announced (on Facebook) that she'd be deleting her account. I wasn't phased, and, unlike with my other friend last month, didn't worry that our (basically non-existent) relationship would suffer because of this decision. This has led me to another thought: Who am I friends with on Facebook who I have no relationship with?
Intentionality has been creeping into my thoughts and conversations as of late, and it's time for me to become more intentional with my online interactions. Will I be deleting my Facebook account? Not at this point, but I will be "de-friending" people with whom my only interaction is an occasional "like". Will I stop reading blogs? No, but I'll be limiting those I read to the blogs that have value to my own life. Will I stop 'pinning' or 'tweeting'? No, but I won't let my time with these take away from quality time with those who I love.
As smart phones get smarter and people become more technologically-savvy, being in the present moment seems to have gone by the wayside. But it's by living in the here and now that we can truly discover God and bring His life to those around us.
Well, I could never do it , so no point in even considering it.
And then I realized how depended I was on the internet.
There's no intrinsic problem with the internet. There is so much good that it achieves, whether for information or entertainment. I have friendships with so many people today that I wouldn't know half as well without emails, Facebook, or blogs. But over the last couple months, I've discovered how media - Facebook especially - can distract from simply living in the moment. I became obsessed with posting pictures, "liking" other people's statuses, subscribing to hundreds of blogs and seeking a "following" on my own. Cut back? Never! This is the age of technology, so I must be involved. I go online to "stay in touch", and often only succeed in isolating myself.
Recently, one of my good friends decided to quit Facebook, for many excellent reasons. Upon hearing this, my first thought was "Oh no! How are we going to stay in touch? I won't know how he's doing! We'll lose all contact and won't be friends anymore.." I wish I could say I'm exaggerating, but this was literally my thought process at the time.
Well, over the last three weeks of this friend being Facebook-less, I'm happy to say that we've been in contact and, surprise! we're still friends. Our contact has shifted from Facebook messages to emails and texts, and honestly? I think it's better this way. Somehow, those emails and texts seem more personal. As pathetic and childish as it seems, I've learned a much-needed lesson that Facebook isn't necessary for true friendship.
Just yesterday, an acquaintance announced (on Facebook) that she'd be deleting her account. I wasn't phased, and, unlike with my other friend last month, didn't worry that our (basically non-existent) relationship would suffer because of this decision. This has led me to another thought: Who am I friends with on Facebook who I have no relationship with?
Intentionality has been creeping into my thoughts and conversations as of late, and it's time for me to become more intentional with my online interactions. Will I be deleting my Facebook account? Not at this point, but I will be "de-friending" people with whom my only interaction is an occasional "like". Will I stop reading blogs? No, but I'll be limiting those I read to the blogs that have value to my own life. Will I stop 'pinning' or 'tweeting'? No, but I won't let my time with these take away from quality time with those who I love.
As smart phones get smarter and people become more technologically-savvy, being in the present moment seems to have gone by the wayside. But it's by living in the here and now that we can truly discover God and bring His life to those around us.