A Cold Day in Facebook

We had been warned for several days to expect an ice event starting on Tuesday. It could start as early as 7am and could last through Wednesday at 6am. I got up early so I could get to work before the sleet had a chance to start. In fact, the accounts sounded so authoritative that I packed a suitcase with an extra set of clothes and toiletries just in case the 25 mile drive was too treacherous and it would be safer to spend the night at the office. Senior management decided to send a good part of the workforce home early along with many other companies and schools in the area. That night, Facebook was ablaze with friends on-line as the icy weather grounded the city to a halt. Ironically, it reminded me of a summer night: neighbors sitting on each other’s porch, kids playing up and down the street, screen doors swinging with the constant in-and-out activity, and plans being made for the next adventure. It has taken quite awhile for Facebook to grow on me, but now I log on almost every night to catch up on news I wouldn’t find through my e-mail. The age demographics are changing as more parental units and youth workers are signing up. Tuesday night was an example of how Facebook can build relationships and keep a dialogue on-going. I used a Scrabble application to play on-line with my niece in Arkansas, examined Jayme’s photos from Egypt and Israel, marveled at how pretty one of the youth who grew up in our church is, admired Stephen’s photos from China, salivated over Colleen’s life stories from India, investigated information from the moderator of PCUSA, discovered Brad was sick with a cold, congratulated a former intern on her new house, was invited by Kathy and Michelle to share my story, and all without having ten different Internet tabs open at once. There are still a lot of frills that I haven’t bought into, but I am beginning to definitely respect its possibilities.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Whether a single candle flame or a computer screen, a cold winter’s day or a hot summer’s night, you are able to use all things to relate and connect to your people. At a time when technology is moving so quickly; we must adapt and retrain our ideas and practices or be left with no way to communicate. We have media we can no longer view because players are discontinued, slots removed, and signals terminated as the next upgrade in machinery and knowledge is implemented. There is still great value and need for the handwritten note, the hand on the shoulder, and the personal phone call, but we also should not ignore other gifts and opportunities of connection. Let us use any and all methods to invite, to share, to care, to grow and to pray. Amen.