While procrastinating doing the dishes this afternoon, I decided to peruse Facebook and catch up with some old friends.
There were the usual SuperPokes, Suggested Friend Requests, Snowball Fights, and "Hey, join this group dedicated to the saving of bald eagles from certain death" groups, but what started to really catch my attention wasn't the number of friendship requests, but the number of people who requested friendship that I hadn't thought about in 10, 15, or 20 years. You know what I'm talking about? Those people who were part of your life for a season!
There is the old saying that God gives you certain people in your life: Friends for a Season, Friends for a Reason, and Friends for a Lifetime. Those folks who you thought where only part of your life for a season are now coming back around and seeking access to your life again. Now adding them as a friends doesn't necessarily qualify as '"being a part of your life," but it does get one thinking about the power of social networking. Those friends, acquaintances, and"what-was-I-thinking" relationships start to come back around, and force you to contemplate how we treat the people around us.
With social networks, getting up in the morning and praying that God would use you to make an impact on others, starts to change ones outlook on our "seasons."
Open Channels: connections with people who you wished you had kept in touch with, but let slip away; folks you spent time with, but where glad to move on from; acquaintances and passers-by who you knew only by name; a boyfriend or girlfriend whom you hurt, or who hurt you; people who you have wronged or who have wronged you; anyone who you know or knew, and anyone who knows or knew you.Social networks should force us to examine the expected and unexpected consequences of our relationships. I'm starting to realize how important it is to view others in light of God's Grace!
With the potential of us all being connected, what about those "seasonal" people?
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1
I wonder what Solomon would say about Facebook??
Image: Seasons by ganzoman
1 comment:
Rob: It definitely is a different world when we view it in the light of your post, and how people who in past generations we'd have never likely contacted again have an opportunity to brush and touch our consciousness in direct ways. I think the psychology of all this really is fascinating. I probably need to spend more time on Facebook than I do now, which is MAYBE a few minutes per week. I have found it amazing to hear my Mom enjoy Facebook and making connections. Certainly folks like that dramatize that you're never to old to be a lifelong learner!
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