Not a Facebook Bashing Blog

There is a song that has been playing in my head for the past couple of weeks. I have to admit, it is only slightly less on my nerves than Bon Jovi’s Dead or Alive that my son’s play incessantly on their new Rock Band Ps2 game they got for Christmas.

Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.
For the Father up above looks upon you with His love,
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.

Where I heard this childhood song to get it stuck in my head, I have no idea. I can assure you, it isn’t a tune on Rock Band. But never mind. It is stuck in there for real, for sure and I’m afraid, for good. I seriously can’t shake it.

So as in anytime something like this pops up “randomly” in my head, and after a solid week of it NOT going away, I have finally started clueing in to the fact that Someone just might be trying to get my attention through this simple song. After a few circumstances, a little less eggnog and a couple of gentle nudges from the Holy Spirit, I think I’ve come up with my answer.

Vigilance.

Let me explain.

Not long ago, I entered into the wonderful world of Facebook. (If you are one of the 2 people in the world who haven’t heard of Facebook, it is an Internet social network that allows you to connect with people anywhere, anytime.) I honestly knew very little about it when I started, and up until my husband decided to join up, I never did much with it. But in the past two or three months, I have enjoyed re-connecting with childhood friends, high school friends, college friends, and my current network of friends by sharing emails and pictures, as well as fun information about my life. For a pastor’s daughter who has lived in over 10 states in my life, a tool like Facebook has been an awesome way to talk to people again that I might never otherwise get the chance to.

I even found my favorite high school history teacher on there. :)

But lately I’ve begun to notice something about this fun tool. I’ve seen it's likes before in blogland…in shopping malls…restaurants…and yes, even in my mirror at home. And I just can't shake the fear that it is carrying with it the potential to get us, as believers, in trouble.

A tool of distraction.

A means of addiction.

A way of escape.

A fulfillment of needs not otherwise getting met.

A huge time waster.

A facilitator of pretense vs. reality.

I have, of late, really seen this. Where meeting old friends and reconnecting with loved ones is a super cool thing, reconnecting with loved ones and meeting new friends to the detriment of a marriage is not. Nor is it a stretch to say that it’s happening. Sadly, it’s happening and happening a lot.

But this blog is actually not about Facebook.

In fact, you might be surprised to know that upon finishing this blog I do not plan on canceling my Facebook membership or cutting my Facebook ties. No, I am staying on Facebook, at least for the time being. But I am also doing something else.

I am remembering the words to that simple little song that is stuck in my mind, like it or not…”Oh, be careful little eyes what you see...” I am also remembering its three subsequent verses (in no particular order)...

Oh, be careful little feet, where you go…

Oh, be careful little lips, what you say…

Oh, be careful little hands, what you do…

Whether on Facebook or at church or in my neighborhood or in my ministry…

I am checking myself constantly. Praying about my actions. Making sure that my life stays pure before God through the relationships I invest in. Being careful of what my eyes see. My ears hear. My lips say. My hands do.

Vigilance.

I simply have to have it to stay out of trouble.

By this Monday morning Not a Facebook Bashing Blog I am hoping to encourage you to do the same. In fact, I'm burdened for us both this year, if we don't.

Be well, friends. Whether we connect on Facebook or on the streets of our "non-cyber world"...let’s be well together.