Live a more disciplined life, and listen carefully to words of knowledge. Proverbs 24:12
Well. I did it. I finally deleted my Facebook account.
The funny thing is that, I don't miss it. I don't miss how it would suck me into the computer screen each day, wasting countless minutes and hours oooing and ahhing over people's status updates, pictures, and drama. I'm not one of those people who can just use Facebook for communication purposes, and I'm sure that is the situation for many people on Facebook. For me, and for many, it is a breeding ground for insecurity, bitterness, rude behavior, and jealousy. It is so much easier to type something out than to actually pick up the phone, call someone, and have a relationship with them. We have entered the age where relationships are too often defined by our ability to "connect" via the internet. I remembered growing up that the only way you knew someone was to spend time with them, to let them cry on your shoulder, to enjoy a cold watermelon in the summertime or ride horses bareback in the pasture. It is so much easier in the current days to just throw a quick shout out to your friend on Facebook and then go about your business consumed by your own life and it's battles. We think we already "know" these people because we read about their lives each day, but we don't really "know" them until we give of ourselves to them. Spend time with them.
I've noticed even more-so now that I spent way too much time on Facebook. I even cut my time down to once per day, but it was still too much. What is even more pathetic is that I would jump on the computer "real quick" to look up a phone number or get some quick information, and that always, inevitably, turned into me "stalking" people on Facebook, checking out pictures or reading up on drama. Now, when I'm standing around with nothing to do, I feel a nudge to go read my Bible or do something productive, like fold that pile of laundry that's been sitting in my floor for days. Or even better, spend time with my girls. It's so easy to throw in a DVD or open the door to the backyard and forget about them as I would get sucked into the internet world.
One of my friends said that when you start thinking in status updates, that's when Facebook gets ridiculous. And it's so true. Why do we care so much about what other people know about us? Is it pride? Absolutely. Pride and trying to define ourselves with things that really don't matter. Now, I'm not knocking everyone who uses Facebook and this isn't Facebook Bashing Day for me. This is just something that really resonates in my heart and something I feel that God has been pressing me to do for a long time. Maybe you aren't that self-absorbed, nosey, prideful person that I tend to be. My mama used to tell me, "Elizabeth, you are so worried that someone is going to fart and you won't be around to hear it." A little gross, but a little true. It's time to refocus myself and start walking in the direction God has called me to walk towards and stop worrying about what I know and don't know. I don't "need" Facebook as a communication tool. Those who care about me and of whom I care about have my email, phone number, and/or know where I live. In this season of Lent (and yes, I'm a little late), giving up Facebook is more than just a 40 day journey for me; it's a permanent thing. I hope it will inspire other people to use their time more wisely doing those things to build up God's kingdom, to walk closer with Him, and invest in their friends and family.....the old fashioned way.
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