I only ever started because of this blog.

I was a confirmed social media neverwannabe.  Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest, Vine, Tumblr, LookI’maweirdo.com—I had no interest in any of them.  Too many people with too much time on their hands sharing details of their lives that nobody cares about.  And pictures of cats.

Yeah, but then I started this blog.  My mentor wanted me to commence tweeting and liking and posting and whatnot.  When I told him I wasn’t interested, he asked an important question: 

“Did you want people to read what you write?”

Good question.  As fine a thing as diaries are, this blog was meant to be read by people other than Michael.  In order to read it, people have to find it.  Social Media is the place where that can happen.

So I dove in.  And now, one year and sixty-seven posts later, the overwhelming power of Facebook has brought me tens of readers from all corners of the county.

I also have 114 “friends,” most of whom I see only on the computer screen.  And that’s a really weird thing.  I mean, I’m actually “friends” with a woman that I met only once, when we were about thirteen years old.  Haven’t seen her in decades, wouldn’t recognize her if she bit me—which I’m pretty sure she would never do, but who can know—I just said I haven’t seen her in decades.  But, she found me on Facebook and asked to “friend” me.  Hey, why not?  It’s a pretty low-commitment relationship.  She writes about kids I will never meet and cats I will never have the opportunity to throw rocks at…and yet we are “friends.”  Odd, vaguely disturbing, but kinda cool.

I must admit, there are some really nifty aspects to this whole Facebook world.  I can, and do, reconnect with long lost friends.  I take a meander down memory lane, start randomly punching in names from days of yore, and whoa!  There’s a kid I knew in sixth grade!  What ever happened to him?  Let’s find out…

Sometimes, what you find out makes you wish you’d left the kid safely in Sixth-Grade Memoryville. But sometimes…gold.  A real friend, reclaimed from life’s lost and found pile.

Relationships through social media are incredibly low maintenance. Click “Like,” once in a while, pop in a smiley face, repost the cat picture.  You’re tight.  You can keep track, keep up, keep a friendship going, all at the touch of a virtual button.  It’s fast-food friendship.

I’m not knocking social media…much.  It has a valuable place in our world.  Social media affirms that we are not alone or forgotten.  It allows for contact and communication that probably wouldn’t occur otherwise.  I have sent prayer requests out into the ether, and people have responded.  It is in many ways a blessing, and I’m glad I got involved.  But we make a mistake if we think that “friending” someone is real friendship.  Real friendship can be hard work.  It is sometimes inconvenient.  The investment, and the payoff, are so much greater.

Lately, I’ve been looking at a lot of things in my life and considering how they impact my walk with Christ.  Am I taking this lighter, easier approach to friendship into my relationship with him?  Am I settling for a quick status update when he wants a lengthy conversation?  Do I “like” and make pithy comments about Scripture, when he wants me to study to show myself approved?  Am I looking for these verses in my bible?

“A friend “likes” at all times.

“There is a “close friend” who sticks closer than an “acquaintance.”

“Greater love has no man than this: that he would delete his favorite meme for a friend.”

I’m not going to find them.

OK, enough deep thought.  I have to think of a pithy one-liner to summarize all this, and go post the link on Facebook.  I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Also, don’t forget to “like” us, and share this post with all your “friends.”

I’m so pathetic.