Facebook

I like Facebook.  As I write this, the comments of my peers line up in my head.  “I never use the thing.”  “Waste of time.” “Tool of the devil.”  That last one is rare.  Seems to me that almost anything can be a tool of the devil.  The Beatles, the four lads first revealed to the USA on the Ed Sullivan show in the 1960’s,  were Satan’s personal band dredged from his Satanic lair (obviously hidden in England somewhere) in order to destroy a generation.  Nearly any new trend that has taken root in the next generation is viewed with suspicion by the older folk.  Unfortunately, now, my generation IS the older folk.  So BAH! on Facebook and FIE! on texting at dinner and WOE! to video games that have guns in them.  In MY day, we talked to people face to face, we were polite and engaged at dinner and never ever pretended to be shooting anybody.  At least that’s how we behaved until the Beetles came along.  Then one listen to “Michele” or “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and we fell into lascivious depravity setting society up for the day when Facebook would appear to finish the job.

Seems to me that this endless battle of the generations is futile.  Those who will inherit the earth after us will create their own trends, develop their own tools, devise their own habits and find a way to use all of it for evil.  Ever heard of rule 34?  Neither had I and I have had six decades to discover it.  I both encountered this mysterious rule and found the meaning of it via that other engine of evil….Google.  I am sure that the creator of the rule meant it as a satirical comment on society, which it is.  It also illustrates why the battle of the generations is energy wasted.  Rule 34 says “If it exists, there is porn of it.”  Whatever is introduced to a generation, whether idea, trend or tool, is going to be corrupted and warped and defiled. On the other hand, Facebook is a superb social medium, allowing me to monitor and care for people whose lives would otherwise float on by unnoticed on the dark seas.  Google allows me to answer the question “Has anyone won the million bucks on Wheel of Fortune?”  There are two sides to everything created by Man.

Facebook also allows me to watch my almost two year old granddaughter sing her repertoire of children’s songs for her Mother via a clip taken by an IPhone and posted online for me to see.  It feels almost God-like because I am watching my beloved granddaughter and she has no idea I am there.  At this point, she has no idea that I even care.  But I was there and I do care and I always will.

That is indeed a picture of God, who has known me intimately since the day I came into being, has observed every second of every day and yet has gone unnoticed by me as I blissfully pretended to shoot somebody with a stick (MAN, would I have loved video games!).  Often, I blamed Him for not being there when I needed Him.  He was there and, unlike me, He was not powerless.  He did much more than watch and smile.

It takes effort and vigilance to see the finger of God in my life.  It is easier to see what He has done than it is to see what He is doing.  I know that He is doing something with me.  I know it!  I can’t see what it is yet.  He is probably not watching me via Facebook or looking me up on Google, but He is there and He is at work and He cares and He always will.

 

Psalm 139 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
12 Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.

13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; (NASB)

One thought on “Facebook

  1. Great perspective. It is easy to understand God’s love for us when you compare it to the delight we feel watching our grand child. It is hard to imagine that God finds each of us that fascinating.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.