How Did We Get Here?

The internet is a magical and wonderful place.  A place where you can lose hours at a time without even trying.  With all its ways to stay connected, information at the tips of your fingers, and the ability to shop without even leaving your couch; it just shows how great the internet really is!  But has the internet made us cynical?  More specifically, has social media condemned us to constantly judge one another for choices we make regarding our own lives?  Recently there has been an outpouring of internet love for the people of Paris and what they’ve experienced, and with that love comes the backlash from others who don’t see the need for such an act.  Have we become such a pessimistic society that the hope and compassion that some choose to show via their own personal social media pages deserve to be argued and disputed against?  It’s a profile picture, a hashtag, or a status update – do any of these things affect you personally?  No.  They are just an outward sign (on the biggest stage possible for an individual) to show comradery and empathy.  If you don’t think these things are necessary, then just don’t participate.  It’s that simple.  There’s no need to tell everyone how dumb changing their profile picture to one with an overlay of the French flag is, or that #peaceforparis and #prayforparis are just patting ourselves on the back to make ourselves feel good.  Maybe people are feeling a bit helpless right now, that #prayforparis seems to be the only way we have to contribute right now.  Maybe, just maybe, people who use #prayforparis are actually praying for Paris.  I did.  I didn’t use the hashtag, but I haven’t bashed anyone for using it either.  You want to know why?  Because I saw their hashtag and thought to myself, “yes, that’s a good idea.  I will pray for Paris.”  Since when has not having the same opinion as someone else given us the right to judge people, and even farther to disparage them in a public forum – usually their own page where, correct me if I’m wrong, they’re supposed to be able to post their own opinions?  Freedom of speech goes both ways, not just yours. And this extends way beyond Paris.  Paris is just the most current example.  You can load any opinions on religion, politics, and even raising children in this boat.  We’ve become very “keyboard bold” in this day and age – when we can spout off our opinions from a keyboard without having to actually say the same thing to someone face to face.  You could even say this very blog post would qualify, but personally, if you asked me I’d tell you the same thing.  The difference here, I haven’t chosen to comment on one person’s status update or article share to tell them how wrong they are; I’m just questioning why so many feel the need to do so. So let’s judge less and love more.  Let’s be more empathetic and less critical.  Let’s pray more and worry less.  Now if you’ve stuck around and haven’t thought I was crazy yet, I want to push you just a little farther…will you pray for Paris with me? God, I thank you for another day.  Another day to live for You and be an example of Your love.  God I ask that You be with all those in Paris grieving the loss of either a friend or family member or even the loss of their sense of freedom.  God protect those in Paris from the fear the terrorists are trying to instill.  Protect us here the same.  The enemy wants us to be afraid, but if we trust in You, the great Creator who set everything into motion, we know You have a plan and we don’t need to be afraid.  We are all your children, God, and we trust that you want nothing to harm us.  Give all your children strength to carry on and heal those hurting, and let those who need to feel Your love be wrapped in a feeling of peace that only You can give.  In Your son’s name, Jesus Christ, we ask these things.  Amen.