A Worshipful Heart

How Honest Should We Be?

I did not have a particularly good day today. Nothing bad happened, it was just a tough day for me emotionally. Many times I just wanted to twitter (which goes on my Facebook status) "waaaaaaa!!!! I just want to go back to bed and stay there!" On days like this I find it hard to know how to share my life online. I waver between just not sharing at all, to feeling like a fake when I share something inane about my day. 

Let's face it, when we are struggling, it seems almost silly to share what we had for dinner, or whatever else we might usually share. On the other hand, it can be harmful to "overshare". It can alarm our mothers :), and might cause problems in our relationships if our angst is due to another person. And to be honest, so much of our stress seems to be due to conflict with those we care about. So if we share that we're angry right after a confrontation with a loved one, is that right? It seems like that might cause speculation and more hurt feelings. 

So, it's hard to know how to be authentic without being a bit too open. Generally, I've handled this by sharing in very general ways. I'll say something like "Hope you'll pray for me. Been feeling a bit anxious lately." I never really know if anyone is praying but one time "Anxiety Depression" did start following me on Twitter! So I'm not sure if it's helpful or not.

I do know this. If I should go talk to someone else, or if I should pray about it but instead I post it on Facebook or Twitter, that is not right. If I'm doing it to gain attention or sympathy, that also is not productive. So many times I've chosen just to not update at all - I wanted my motives to be pure, I didn't want to upset anyone, or cause questions, and yet I felt like it wouldn't be at all authentic to share something very mundane. I just avoided sharing all together. Yet isn't it the goal of social media - especially in the circle of Believers - to grow community and awareness of one another's lives?

What do you think? How honest should we be online? What are the limits and parameters?

How do you handle days when you're not sure you should share how you feel?

Have you ever shared something and then regretted it or had it cause a problem?

Good - Bye for Now...Why I'm taking a break from social media

I love connecting with friends. This is one of the reasons I have tried to faithfully twitter, interact on facebook, and even blog - it gives me more opportunities to share my life and to get a glimpse of other's lives as well. With that said, you may have noticed I've been conspicuously absent from facebook, twitter, and blogging for most of this week. I've updated twitter exactly once since Sunday night.....must be a record.

I have felt very led by God to take a break from social media for a while - a "fast" if you will from near constant communication and feedback. So you won't see me online for a few weeks. I'm not sure how long this will last, I'm just going to continue until I feel God has said it's okay for me to go back.

So why would I do this? Why do I think God is leading me to take this step?

There are a few things:

1) I think God wants me to take a break from writing about my life and instead to be fully present in the moment. It's a way to honor those I am physically present with - if I'm with Phil and we're taking a walk, no matter what I see or what happens I just enjoy and experience that with him without the distraction of sharing it with the world! I can also really enjoy each moment of my life in a more substantive way. 

2) Similarly, it helps me to be more fully tuned into God. Constant communication and feedback can wreck your ability to pay attention to one thing at a time. It can be distracting. I feel like I'm in a season that I need to really be fully tuned in to the voice of God alone. 

3) I simply need a break.

So, what has my first week been like? To be honest, it's been very peaceful. No constant need to check my phone, no wondering if someone will misunderstand a comment, no obsessing over what someone else meant by their comment, and more time just to "be", to relax mentally, and to be fully present to God and whoever I'm with. I think I might have gotten more work done too. :)

Because of this, Phil and I have made the radical decision - for us anyway! - to not take my iPhone or his Blackberry with us when we travel to Maui on Tuesday. We've also decided we're not checking email while we're away. We're going to focus on hearing from God and being with each other and - oh yes! - relaxing in one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

I wanted you to know I am not ignoring you personally, I'm simply not checking in. I hope you'll understand and pray for me as I take this step in my journey. I trust God has a deep work to do in my life. 

See you later! And ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Why I Love Facebook

 

I have alot of people ask me how I have time to be on Facebook and update so much. For the record I generally always update via Twitter, and it takes me just a few minutes a day. I've come to really value the interaction I have with friends and family near and far. I've made new friends and connected with old friends. I have dear prayer warriors that hold me before the Lord that I have never actually met personally and I am able to chat with friends and family that I see very rarely. It gives me a great way to interact with my church family and meet new folks as they come to The Brook. It's been a blessing.

It's changed the way I communicate......

I can't imagine being without facebook now. Without facebook, how would:

 - I know that my daughter needs a new vacuum cleaner? (or a used one if you've got it!)

 - My mom know what I'm doing every day?

 - I get to talk to Sara, Amy, Scott, Stephanie, Susan, and other relatives that I might see only every few years?

 - I know that Dustin's Native American Name is Bent Willow?

 - Or that Alison and Garet are getting a new roof?

 - Or that Tracee is giving up smoking? (how's that going?)

 - See what Josh, Brian, and Alison are really doing when they say they are working?

 - Know for sure that my old classmates now look middle-aged just like me?

 - And see their spouses and kids?

 - I know that Kathy Mackenzie has not mowed her back yard or scooped the doggy poop? 

 - Connect with James Carroll, who is the biggest sweetie on facebook? And that he collects the oddest things I've ever seen? 

 - See all the great new youtube videos?

 - See all the latest news on people's "relationship status"? I've really learned alot from this!

 - I know that John and Irene went to Madison's Concert in the Park tonight? (which I did not even know we had) or that they went to Pike Place Market while in Seattle? 

 - I know what kind of tattoos everyone should get? Or what 80's song they are? Or if they've found their soul mate? Or what their Icelandic Hawaiian Leprachaun name is?

 - I know 25 random things about everyone on fb?

 - Talk to Melodie in Guatemala?

 - Know that my city slicker friends farmed?

 - See Josh's green chin hair?

 - Or talk to Michelle regularly?

 - Or get pieces of flair or a Roll Tide Wave?

Without Facebook, my life would be so much more boring! It allows me the most fascinating peaks into the lives of others and it allows me to communicate in creative and fun ways with friends and keeps me up on major life events and prayer needs. And in a world where saying good-bye seems too common, it allows me to keep up with those who are not a part of my daily life anymore.

Where would I be without Facebook?

How has fb enriched your life? What have you learned?