Facebook, Part 2 - The Past

In part one, I mentioned the controversy facebook can cause in the church and discussed a few of the benefits I've found using it in that specific community. I've also found a few interesting facets that facebook has provides for reconnecting with the past.

I realize that whether it is facebook, myspace, the internet, classmates.com, or even just a planned high school reunion, we all have stories of reconnecting with people from our past. Yet, the power of internet networking continues to amaze me and I am stunned on a weekly basis by who I can find or who has found me on facebook.

However, unlike reunions. Facebook has allowed the reunion table conversations to continue. It provides for more than a statement of "where life has taken me" to a snapshot of what life is actually like on a day to day basis for these reconnections. Granted, sometimes the benefit of a reunion is that you can walk away from the experience and move on with your life (facebook allows a certain level of commitment as well).

I realize this is a virtual relationship. I understand that what you see on a profile is merely what people decide to publish about themselves, but overall I think I have a fairly accurate view of what people have accomplished or experienced in life since we were children running around the neighborhood or the school yard.

Like most folks that use facebook, there are those I am glad to reconnect with and others I would prefer to keep only as distant memories from our time as children.

I guess I've found that facebook has allowed another opportunity (or almost an open door) to declare the Gospel. Currently, I have just over 300 facebook "friends" and on a fairly regular basis they are all "updating" their current status. (Note: for the humor alone, the reconnection with so many has been worth it). It only takes a little bit of effort to reconnect and then reach into someone's life and encourage them or share the good news.

I truly believe you should minister where God has placed you. For me, that remains to be my family, my church, and my practice. theMangoTimes remains a chronicle of family events and our reaction to life (something our kids can look back on and remember the who, what, where, how and why of our family) and it has provided several connections for me to declare my faith and beliefs. Typically, those connections are with strangers though. That is where facebook is different. For the most part, I share common ground with the connections I've made...we have a history (some shorter, some much longer).

Again, I recognize the many downsides of facebook, but I love the opportunity it has provided to reconnect with my past. I've enjoyed the dialogues that have opened doors for me to again share the Gospel. I have enjoyed taking the extra time necessary to learn or see how someone and their belief system has led them to a specific place in life.

Andy is quietly making noise,
Fletch

To read this entire series of posts:
Part One - Facebook, Part 1 - The Church
Part Two - Facebook, Part 2 - The Past
Part Three - Facebook Part 3 - Our Family
Part Four - Facebook Part 4 - The Phenomenon

Comments

[Judi Dalton]

You have really nailed it. I've taken breaks from Facebook on and off, wondering if it's a waste of time, but then I come back to *exactly* what you've articulated!

I have a tendency to open cans of worms on my profile, instead of just playing little cutsie games as some do, so at times, Facebook has been dicey for me. Recently, I de-friended about six people who are actually dangerous to me and others. Shook the dust off my feet, so to speak. I trust others, who aren't as thin-skinned as I maybe, will continue to reach out to them.

Thanks for an excellent post! =D

[James Estes]

Hey Andy,

Excellent blog on Facebook, both part 1 and 2, I look forward to part 3. My only comment is that Facebook can't substitute for real "Face time" with people, but it is very good at connecting people who may have lost contact with one another and sharing daily snippets of what's going on in daily life (which is really what you already said).

Good thoughtful stuff, Andy!

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