"Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;
anything more than this comes from evil."
~ Matthew 5:37 ~
I'm feeling a little touchy today.
At first I was offended.
Then I felt I had been the offensive one.
Then I was unsure weather to apologize, explain or ignore the whole thing.
And then Matthew 5:37 came to me. Only I didn't know it was Matthew 5:37 when it came to me - thank goodness for online concordances (and spell check).
The situation in a nutshell: Somebody made a "HaHa" true statement on Facebook (the newest root of all evil).
Several others made comments.
One Person asked a questions/made a recommendation.
I made a "HaHa" comment back and "informed One Person about why their sincere, innocent, question/recommendation was just not quite up to snuff (just the truth - neither hot nor cold).
One Person apologized.
Original statement-maker commented with thanks to One Person for their thoughtfulness.
I felt bad.
Then I felt offended. Belittled.
But then, was I just being offensive?
Then I'm confused about MY feelings.
And WOW that HaHa got personal awfully quick.
And no one has said a word.
"Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’"
Job 8:2 ask, “How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?"
A great wind! Yep! That's me. And most other commenters on social media.
Talking just to hear ourselves talk. Full of hot air. Know-it-alls.
Only, we aren't actually talking.
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| Photo Credit |
We can't inflect or show emotions (save strange, vague, mind-numbing, useless emotioncons).
There is no mood. (Except for the one your in).
And when your feeling touchy. . .
So, who's at fault?
me.
I took my eyes off the prize.
And I forgot the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid).
And that's when the devil won.
"anything more than this comes from evil."
Get thee behind me Satan!
I informed. I butted it.
Had that been an actual conversation between a friend and a friend of theirs, would I have stuck in my two cents? Would I have bothered to explain something to someone who probably doesn't care just thought they'd throw their own two cents into that non-existent conversation?
Maybe. Politely. In person.
(Smiling) "Pardon me, I couldn't help but overhear, I think blah blah blah . . . and further more, witty reply. (giggle, small snort)."
And the voiced conversation continues to rolls merrily along.
But "talking" on Facebook isn't really talking.
It's typing (or pecking - depending on your ability).
You aren't having a conversation.
You are replying to the random thoughts of others.
You aren't sharing life with them.
You are glancing at specific moments that they feel like sharing. (some share more than others).
You might be praying FOR someone or semi-simultaneously with them but you are NOT praying WITH them.
There is no connection to other humans.
Not talking as never been a conversation.
And it still isn't.
No touch. No looks. No. . .
Facebook is:
1) a great place to find-out stuff (often too much stuff) about other people (known and unknown to you).
2) a great place to gather opinions (in abundance).
3) a wonderful place find out there are other people on the planet.
But:
4) a horrible place to MEET those opinionated people.
You can see their face, but you can't see them make a face.
You can "say" hello to a "friend," but you can't through an arm around them or give them a friendly pat, or an understanding look.
So, to quote Jesus, "GO!"
Meet these friends in person. Have coffee. Join a group of real life people who gather in person to eat, discuss, study, read, converse and otherwise get to know one another.
You can't win friends and TRULY influence people from Facebook.
That is NOT where real conversation happens.
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Now, I'm stepping off my soap-box, putting on my big girl panties, and calling people on the phone (cause it's day 4 of schooling I'm keeping my pj pants on).
