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Facebook has been a major distraction to me over recent years. You too?
It started out as a fun tool. Perfect for staying in touch with friends and loved ones. But it quickly became a way to keep me from the necessary, but mundane things in life.
Pleasant distractions can quickly into bad habits!
I don’t know about you, but my distractions tend to get in the way of me making the most of my days. Both spiritually and functionally.
I recently deactivated my Facebook account. My tipping point, so to speak, was when I recently logged into Facebook and my news feed was filled with posts of ‘friends’ who had tagged other ‘friends’ they hung out with that weekend.
Talk about feeling a bit excluded. Which is totally ridiculous. I had a weekend filled with real world friends and good times, and I wouldn’t have hung out with these people even if I had been asked.
How did Facebook gain that much control over my emotions? Why did I feel excluded?
I really don’t know. But now I find these folks a bit annoying and rude. Which is totally judgmental and not me.
Do you ever feel excluded or judgmental in cyberspace? Be honest.
Think about it, if you were in a room full of 300 plus people, would you grab a microphone and point out that you had a great time with 6 people in that room over the weekend?
Um, no. Why? Cuz that would sort of be rude. And a bit weird. A little self-absorbed even. And chances are, if you are a nice person, you wouldn’t want other friends feeling left out, or hurt, by the fact they weren’t even invited.
So, if we don’t do it in the real world, why is it OK to do it in the cyber world?
Facebook has only been around for a decade, but over the last year or two there have been a lot of studies showing that it makes women feel isolated and insecure. Ironic for a social networking site, right?
In real life I am not excluded by the people that matter.
But let’s get real. I don’t want to feel excluded in the cyber world by people who don’t. Harsh, I know. But true. Maybe my expectations are too high, I’m not sure. But this silly platform has been making me feel petty, judgmental and downright ridiculous lately. And I don’t like it.
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
Right now, I’m choosing to live life fully present in the real world. I know it’s what God wants me to do in this season of life.
My desire for you this week, is that you continue to be more intentional with your time and your real world relationships. Maybe Facebook isn’t a distraction for you. But chances are, something is. And maybe it’s time to get rid of it.
Time to number your days with wisdom, not folly.
Oh, and as a last thought…will you please consider taking a moment to evaluate if your social interactions may be impacting others in a negative way, even if it is unintentionally?
Please be considerate of others. We do it in the real world. Let’s do it in cyberspace too!
Has social media ever made you feel excluded? Have you ever stopped to think that what you write might be impacting someone negatively? Have you been struggling to find balance in your life? Is God convicting you to give up a major distraction this week?