I haven’t made a final decision yet, but I’m considering unfollowing my close personal friends and family on social media. Not because I don’t like them. Quite the opposite, in fact. I like them so much that I want to give them more than an occasional digital thumbs-up (or various digital emoji thingy) to signify my love and friendship. When someone announces their joys or their trials on social media, I might stop my doom-scrolling for a split second to give them a heart or a little caring face. And then I’ll scroll on. I did the thing. Clicked the button. I’m good, right? I care. See… I clicked.
I believe we have an obsession with what people are 'doing' rather than with the essence of 'be'-ing'. I have personally never been interested in connecting into social media of any kind - and I have very little awareness of what friends and family are actually doing in their day to day activities... as is true of them with me. I believe I am on this planet for a far more important reason than for constant awareness of physical activities... but that is just my own weird personal take on the subject.
Love this! What truth!! I heard once that biblical hospitality can mean saying “here is ‘my’ time, I am giving some of it to you.” Like you said, how you quick and easy it is to leave a comment or “like”, but that’s not really giving any of your time into the other person. What a powerful message. Thanks, Jonas!
I remember the days before social media. Social Media was stopping by a friend or a family member's home just to say hello. You didn't need a specific reason. Once in a while you might bring some treats or maybe grab them to go for a drink of coffee or something else. That was social media. There were phone calls and letters. If you lived in the same neighborhood as we did in the North End of Boston we yelled out windows to each other to meet on the corner. Now that was social media.
As my own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energy ebbs and flows, I understand the inner tension between my good heart and imagination want to do with and for others and what I need for myself. I put my prayer and all my positive emotions right into the Like or Love button. I include myself in the circle of care.
The only reason I joined social media was because that was the only way to find out what was happening with some of my family. (We are all scattered across the West.)
We use the messaging function for direct (personal) communication. Partly the issue is time zones, partly rotating schedules. But even with a sibling who has my phone #, they would rather message than text or call. Not sure why.
I believe we have an obsession with what people are 'doing' rather than with the essence of 'be'-ing'. I have personally never been interested in connecting into social media of any kind - and I have very little awareness of what friends and family are actually doing in their day to day activities... as is true of them with me. I believe I am on this planet for a far more important reason than for constant awareness of physical activities... but that is just my own weird personal take on the subject.
Love this! What truth!! I heard once that biblical hospitality can mean saying “here is ‘my’ time, I am giving some of it to you.” Like you said, how you quick and easy it is to leave a comment or “like”, but that’s not really giving any of your time into the other person. What a powerful message. Thanks, Jonas!
Hi Jonas,
I remember the days before social media. Social Media was stopping by a friend or a family member's home just to say hello. You didn't need a specific reason. Once in a while you might bring some treats or maybe grab them to go for a drink of coffee or something else. That was social media. There were phone calls and letters. If you lived in the same neighborhood as we did in the North End of Boston we yelled out windows to each other to meet on the corner. Now that was social media.
As my own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energy ebbs and flows, I understand the inner tension between my good heart and imagination want to do with and for others and what I need for myself. I put my prayer and all my positive emotions right into the Like or Love button. I include myself in the circle of care.
The only reason I joined social media was because that was the only way to find out what was happening with some of my family. (We are all scattered across the West.)
We use the messaging function for direct (personal) communication. Partly the issue is time zones, partly rotating schedules. But even with a sibling who has my phone #, they would rather message than text or call. Not sure why.