As part of my 2017 goals, I decided to remove people from my life that are toxic or stir angst in me :: translation :: mainly people on social media. I think I literally only have five Facebook friends anymore as I have had to "stop seeing" ninety five percent of the people that I know.
And you know what? It's not WHAT people are posting, it is THAT they are posting. I literally "CAN'T" with all the insane article sharing, shade throwing, and just plain mean stuff that I read! I constantly find myself asking, "Would they actually say that to a person to their face?" One night I read through a argument that was unfolding on my news feed between two high school friends and showed it to Christian. We read it out loud, imagining that these two people were in a room, face to face, saying these things! It was crazy! Certainly no one would speak to someone like that in real life!
I feel like computers have people feeling super confident - they can sit back, perfectly articulate something nasty, and then post it with no repercussions! It makes my heart hurt. If only we could all get off the internet and into our actual real lives and start there.
Creating a better world starts at home, not on Facebook. I am bowing out of any political conversations and opinion pieces, and am going to pray harder than ever before. When I wonder whether something is right or wrong, I am going to practice sitting in silence and try to listen for the answer. Whenever I think that I may have a strong opinion about something, I am going to try seeing it from the other side. But most importantly, every time I act, I am going ask myself, would this please God?
Lastly, I am going to focus on my charity. I can't help but look to the nine beatitudes here:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Notice the theme of charity. The beatitudes shed light on the actions and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life; they are the paradoxical promises that sustain hope in the midst of tribulations; they proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured, however dimly, for each of us.
Oh, to have a heart as this. Play nice everyone.
xoxo
