Friday, July 23, 2010

Faithbook

This week Facebook announced that 500 million (that's a lot zeros) are part of this unique social phenomenon. So what is it about FB that so many are attracted or even addicted to it's artificial stimulation? The answer is obvious and a little sad. You see, on Facebook you can be anybody you want to be (I have seen some of your profile pictures, be honest, you haven;t looked like that in thirty years),and you can say anything you want to say.

I will step off my soap box for just a minute to admit that some good has risen like a Phoenix out of the web of Facebook. Old friends have been re-united, new friends have been made. I heard of a family re-union that had the largest turnout ever. I have read compelling thoughts. I have laughed and I have cried at words written on the canvas of Facebook. But for the most part I believe that if extreme caution is not taken when entering the realm of FB, people will get hurt.

Facebook has allowed us to become farmers without the fear of loosing our farm because of the color of our skin or because mother natures destroys our land. You can join the dark world of vampires, or become a mafia boss. Open your own cafe with no sweat or overhead. You can waste away precious time by playing word games, or games with funny names (just what is a farkle?). You can respond "yes" to every "friend request"-and then brag to the world about the number of friends you have.

You can create any world you want, create any friend you desire and believe that they all read what you write, believe what you say and love you unconditionally; until they "unfriend" you that is. Facebook has allowed you to be a creator, a god. With the power of the click you can "like" or "delete" any other one's opinion.

I have been accused of being overly optimistic. They have told me to take off my rose-colored glasses at times. But I can't stop believing, I can't go a moment without faith. So I wonder what would happen if 500 hundred million Facebookies, for just a day, turned off their laptops and PC's, dropped to their knees and looked to the real creator, the real God, and just said "thank you". I wonder what that day would be like if each user spoke to a friend face to face; instead of on Facebook. I wonder what would happen if each one looked around at God's construction and began to realize that there is no greater creation than this. I wonder what would happen if each of us looked in the mirror to see who we really are and know that regardless of the number of bytes, pixels or hard drives you possess, there is nothing in that little box made of plastic and metal that will change who you are. I wonder how many would do this for just one day.

It just a day, He gave us a lifetime, He gave us His Son.

See you next week.

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