the reluctant return to Facebook

I was pretty much FORCED to re-join Facebook for a new job I started this week.

Going back to it, I realize I really, really did not miss Facebook at all. I'm tolerating it now only for research purposes and the faint hope of contributing something useful to my organization. But the more I was exploring all the 'group' options, the more I wanted to log out of there ASAP.

I've been trying to figure out what bothers me so much about Facebook (aside from my acknowledged perverse distrust of anything that "everyone" seems to be doing--like reading The Purpose Driven Life, or even (!) listening to Tim Keller sermons for starters).

I read one reflection today that argues Facebook breeds jealousy. Jealously of the fabulous life of others as evidenced through their photos, the number of friends they have, the number of wall writings etc. Another issue is the self-absorption it can promote. All the status updates, all the newsfeeds, all the running commentary re. who wrote on whose wall, who gave who what gift blah blah blah can make us feel like we're the star of our own online reality show. And isn't it a problem if people start favoring their online lives to their offline one? I don't know! I don't know! I'm just telling it like I read it.

To be fair, people say, and I can sorta agree, that Facebook CAN be a great way to network, keep in touch, keep friendships alive. It's fun, it's a great time-waster and the photo options are handy.

But I hate hate hate hearing that this kind of social interaction is the wave of the future or that it's the only way we're going to stay connected to one another. Why? Maybe because I kinda feel it's a lazy-ass, low-risk way of "staying connected." Maybe it's because I think, if there is really no other way to keep in touch with 8 gajillion friends all over the country and world, then maybe we weren't meant to have really connected friendships with 8 gajillion friends all over the country and world.

Anyway, I don't know what my problem is. Maybe I'm silly for questioning something so seemingly beneficial to humanity? Or MAYBE it's healthy and necessary to question something so pervasive? I don't know!

Christmas Challenge

A friend in Boston once shared something that really challenged the way I think about gift giving. She asked herself out loud, with me beside her, "Why am I spending money giving gifts to people I know are going to pay me back? Doesn't Jesus say something like, when you throw a dinner party, don't invite people who are going to be able to pay you back?"

So, what to do about this gift-giving time of year?

I'm most definitely not suggesting we give up entirely on gifts. I just picked up some new Nintendo Wii goodies for DH today--and I can't wait til he opens them.

But this week, we've been studying the book of Amos and I have really been struck by how God wants us to handle our wealth. Back in the prophet Amos' day, the Israelites were rolling in prosperity and security. That is, select groups were rolling, and these people hoarded it, cheated the poor and forced many into slavery. Disgusting. Sounds familiar.

The disturbing warning I got from all studies is that God holds not only those who cheated the poor to account, but also those who are indifferent.

So, wouldn't it be something if we diverted some of our gift-giving budget to those who can't pay us back this Christmas? Even just a part of it?

I've said this out loud now. I need you all to remind me.

8 miles and Worlds Apart

Over the last 3 months, I've been helping 6-8th graders at a small Manhattan school learn about leadership, Africa, poverty and injustice. It was ridiculously awesome fun to challenge young people about things I really care about--and encourage them to do something about poverty in New York and in Africa.




































































Right after I said goodbye to these students on Tuesday, I went up to visit the school in the Bronx I'll be working with come January. The contrasts between the two schools and the students were so stark, it was like I was on a bad TV movie of the week.

After the metal detectors and security check of my bags, after walking past 5-6 security guards in baby blue uniforms, after watching not 1 but 3 fights break out within an hour of my visit (with full-on cussing, pummeling, taunting crowds egging the fights on, fleets of guards sprinting and shouting down the hall to break each one up) all I wanted was Starbucks. Which of course was no where to be found in this neighborhood.

I'm gonna have to figure out how to adapt all my material for this very different crowd.