It is called “social networking.”  It has been around long enough for scholars and pundits to be weighing in on it as a phenomenon ~ of course, there are a range of comments!  Is it the “death” of “real” communication?  Or, does it offer the possibility of connecting with friends and family across the miles? Is it dangerous? Or merely superficial? Is it addictive or useful?  And, what about texting, tweeting, etc.?

Me? I started to dabble with Facebook this summer ~ and I was startled how quickly my “Friends” list exploded.  I am now “friends” of friends’ friends, and their relatives, and their friends, and their friends’ friends.  Yikes, I don’t even want to know that many people, much less be friends!  I have trouble keeping up with the friends I have actually met. But I did get to see that my nephew looks exactly like my brother, amazing! And, I get to see what Micah is up to, even when he doesn’t tell me. And, we have a new verb: to friend.  oh well. . .

It is nothing new ~ this desire to connect.  It is part of the gift of creation.  It a lot of ways, it is also the reason for creation.  God wanted to connect ~ and, so, God created. What do we make of that?  Do you want to friend God?  Are you at all interested in friending God’s friends?  This Bible verse comes to mind: “Listen! I am standing at the door knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with Me.” Revelation 3:20

Get it? God wants to friend you.  And, it will be dangerous ~ to the status quo, accumulating stuff, guilt.  Of course, it can also be superficial ~ some settle for church attendance, others serve at their convenience, and many abandon the whole notion of discipleship when things get ugly (Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane comes to mind).

Curiously, though, humanity’s God-given need to connect continues to provoke and rouse us to search for the One Who gives meaning and depth to our lives.  You can read all about it in the Bible, God’s Face Book.

An old hymn comes to mind, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus.”
. . .written long before “friend” was a verb. . .

Socially networking with you,

Pastor Susan