Imprisoned by Facebook!

This past Monday I had a very unfortunate thing happen to me.  Something happened within my Facebook account that had me sending out bogus messages to quite a few of my online friends about some picture on some website that I knew nothing about nor did I send.  Frankly, this kind of stuff on the internet really runs my pressure up and gets me extremely hot!  And I get that way when I see these kind of happenings to other people... so imagine what I felt when I saw it happen to me.

I decided in my rage, almost instantly, to be done with Facebook.  I expressed my fury and disappointment on my status and responded to as many of my fellow victims within this conspiracy as I could.  After an hour or so of all that, I deactivated my account.

Since then, I've had so many contacts and conversations with people as to why I wasn't on Facebook anymore.  I had a dinner date that was made on Facebook this week and the parties I were to meet with wanted to change the engagement but couldn't because the only way we kept in touch was on Facebook.  I have other engagements that have been requested of me (since Monday) that have been hard for people to get complete because they don't seek to find access to me by any other means other than Facebook. 

I've had several individuals to tell me that what happened to me happens to a lot of people rather often.  My reply to one was "it doesn't happen to my wife; you know why, because she's not on Facebook."  They've told me to just change my password frequently and I wouldn't have to worry about it.  My reply to that was "Facebook is not an essential part of my life.  I CAN DO WITHOUT FACEBOOK."

Well, apparently, I can't do without Facebook.  Today, I reactivated my account to "get back in touch" with all of my connections, personally and professionally.  I have changed my password but honestly, I can't stand this feeling.  I feel so "imprisoned" by this creature called Facebook. 

Please understand, I am a '60s baby.  I grew up in a time when all of this familiar and apparently necessary technology wasn't even thought of.  Computers were to huge to put on our laps or in our hands; they were solely in large warehouse resembling spaces being used for a much bigger reason than personal socializing.  Cell phones were what rich folks had in their limousines.  We called them "car phones."  I traveled back and forth from Tallahassee to Orlando while I was in college without the thought of needing a cell phone.  All I needed was $10-$20 for a tank of gas in a '64 Chevy and a collect call on a "land line phone" before I left to my mother that I was getting on the road (and sometimes I didn't even do that).  So just the thought that I "need" Facebook now is absolutely insulting to me.  But it hurts to admit that evidently I do.

So, I'm stuck in this jail called Facebook, as are some, if not most, of you.  What are we going to do about this??  How can we break out of this jail or get someone or something to come and bail us out??  I have not a clue. 

Retreat and Reality: Find a Way to Connect the Two!

I've had a wonderful past 2 weeks!!

I experienced one day of the Seabreeze Jazz Festival.  This annual event is definitely one of the pluses of living in the Bay County area.  I had tickets for 3 of the 4 days of the fest, but could only make the first day.  I appreciate the little bit of time I got to share in that experience.  Lawn chairs in the park by the beach, listening to jazz music, watching the stars at night is a very tranquil time.

The following day, after my jazz festival opportunity, I was off to Seattle, Washington.  Man, that was a great experience!  I was able to do my job and enjoy the city all at the same time.  The Seattle trip starts with me "stopping by" the Seattle Mariners-Chicago White Sox game as an afterthought to what was originally an item on the weekend agenda that I thought wasn't going to be.  Something brought me to that game anyway.  And, amazingly, I was a witness to the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball history!!  The Mariners lost the game, but White Sox pitcher Philip Humbar (I think that was his name) pitched a perfect game, and I saw it!  Of all days for me to be completely across the country from where I live, I had to make it on the day a perfect game would be pitched in that city.  Absolutely unreal!!  I am grateful for that experience.

I was able to tour the city of Seattle, experience the cuisine of the area and worship with the Goodwill Church and our friends Bishop & Mrs. Garry L. Tyson.  The whole experience was incredible!  I hate the flight to and from Seattle (because it's so long), but what you get once you arrive (both ways) is well worth it!

I returned to the east coast primed and ready to attend my only son's and eldest child's graduation from the Florida A&M University this past Saturday.  That was truly one of the greatest moments in my 45 and 3/4 years of living.  My son has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice!!  Isn't that just phenomenal??!!  I am so proud of both of my children; they are absolutely the best!  To see my son walk across the stage, shake the university president's hand, and receive a degree cover on the same campus I, his mother, his grandmother and his grandfather all matriculated was simply amazing.  I'm glad the Lord let me live to witness all these great milestones.  Next: marriage and grandchildren :-)

In the midst of all of these wonderful experiences, I have thought very little about all the issues, pain and worries that are presently in my life.  It's good to be able to retreat away from what you're going through, but the fact of the matter remains, just because you retreat for a while, reality will return and set in.  All of it will be waiting on you when you get back from your "trip."  The question is: what then?

There's an old secular song (I think the O'Jays use to sing) that says "don't let it get you down, girl, don't let it get you down.  I'll be standing right here to bring you back around, girl, I'll bring you back around."  I hear God saying that to all of us who have the blessed privilege to get away for a minute from the heavy burdens we may be bearing.  If God could keep you during retreat, He can keep you during reality.  We just have to check where our mentality is going to be in both instances.  If you can not worry in retreat, don't worry in reality.  God finds a way for us to connect the two and find joy in both.