Saturday, January 15, 2011

Wi-Fi at Waldon Pond? What if?

This is a question I've been pondering (no pun intended) for the last couple days.

Earlier in the week, I made a decision to move even further away from civilization.
Quite frankly, what I was seeing in society wasn't too civilized.

Since we no longer have any TV viewing of any kind,
I assumed the next step would be Internet.
So...
I made a Pro/Con list,
seeing if "deactivating" my Facebook account might be the proper route.

The list read something like this:

Pro:
More time with nature.

Con:
Will miss connecting with family and friends.


Pro:
See less negative information/gossip.

Con:
Will miss connecting with family and friends.



And so on...


Bottom line, I felt I needed solitude.

My thoughts wandered to Henry David Thoreau as he began his 2-year journey at
Walden Pond back in early July of 1845.
Young Thoreau felt he needed solitude when he built his 10 x 15 cabin,
to write and live rent free on his buddy, Ralph Waldo's, land.
However, Thoreau liked visitors.
Ralph W. Emerson visited almost daily that first year.
(Word has it, he was also checking on his land and pond...)

Thoreau liked visiting.
He even wrote a chapter in his book about "Visitors".
As he said: 
I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.

So, you ask...would Henry David Thoreau have plugged in?
Would he have kept his social network of the day going?
You bet.


This past week, with urgings from friends and relatives,
and even husband,
I prayed about my decision to get off Facebook.
And in doing so, received some very interesting insights from God.
I realize now that Facebook takes me to a new level.
I'm not afraid to use it as my ministry.

To lift up.
To spread the word of God.

I was willing to give it up.

But in turning away from Facebook, I would lose that connection.

I would lose, perhaps the chance to witness to someone.

I like the written word. I love the written word.
I always have, and will to the day I die.

I need to be connected.
"Secluded" does not equal solitude.

We must be here for each other, especially in these troubled times. 
Like family should…FB family.
And... I have the BEST Facebook friends in the world.
Hands down.
Some are relatives, some are old friends, some new friends. 
But all have a face.
Facebook is just that…putting a face, to a book.
The book of life.




“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Thank you Lord ~ for giving me the clarity in this decision.
Until tomorrow...God willing,




4 comments:

Laura said...

So well put Sherry! God puts us in all kinds of situations and if we look deep enough we will see that there lies an opportunity to share God's love and message with the many people we encounter in our daily lives.

Sherry Sutherby http://russ-stickacres.blogspot.com/ said...

Thanks D.M. ~ I agree wholeheartedly!

Karen said...

I have to say that I too am very happy that Nana Shey Shey will still be connected :)

Kathleen said...

I love how you discern, Sherry. I love that you prayed for insight and that you are following God's will. I found this post very helpful. God bless . . .