Shortly before Christmas last year my wife and my daughter introduced me to the world of “Facebook.”
To say it simply, “Facebook” is an internet site that allows one to stay connected with friends and family. It allows one to post news, photos, and other items that might be of interest to one’s friends and family.
There are boundaries that are set so that one’s personal information can only be viewed by the “friends” whom one selects. I even use “Facebook” in my work as the site provides an excellent tool for me to have contact with the youth who attend the First United Methodist Church.
What I have appreciated the most is that “Facebook” has put me in touch with old high school and college classmates. Some of these folks I have not seen or spoken with since high school or college. Others I have not seen for many years.
Every once in a while I’ll get a comment saying, “How did you ever become a preacher?” The truth is that I often wonder the same thing.
“Facebook” also lets me hear from former parishioners who were a part of churches that I served down through the years. In fact “Facebook” is a combination of an online class reunion, church homecoming, and family gathering.
Most of the time, the news that comes from “Facebook” is cheerful; unfortunately, there are times that I learn of tragedies. Other times, I am given the opportunity to offer a prayer for someone and lend a word of support.
All in all “Facebook” has allowed me to reconnect with folks who have not been an active part of my life and that reconnection has made my life richer.
In the fifteenth chapter of Luke’s gospel we read of the woman who upon losing a coin searches her whole house until she finds it. It is implied that the coin is lost because she hasn’t kept up with it. Yet, when she finds it she rejoices and invites her neighbors to see that she has discovered what had been lost.
Over the years I had lost touch with many folks who were important to me basically due to neglect. I had failed to maintain a number of relationships that at one time had been very important. Life for all of us had gone in many different directions and taken us down many different paths.
Yet, through the technological advances of our day we have been brought together on the pages of cyberspace.
So it is that I am grateful for “Facebook” and grateful for the rediscovery of old friends. Yet, in my gratitude I also find a twinge of regret, regret for not having been the friend I could have been and should have been for some through the years and regret for not sharing in the joys of life for others.
In the mid 1970s the late Ricky Nelson, recorded a song entitled “Garden Party” in which he said “If memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck.” I am grateful that there are folks who are no longer memories. I am glad that they are now a part of my life once more.
