Random Reflection

I miss my twitter non-friends.

A couple of weeks ago I was challenged by someone to stop following “famous” Christians on twitter because of the sense of inadequacy it was bringing into my life.

It’s true. I would read those “famous” Christians twitters and feel like I had no life. Those famous Christians were people I kind of aspire to be like: women speakers that I look up to and some that I don’t, but have gained a momentum of popularity in recent times.

So I would follow their twitters and feel like they had a successful life and I didn’t. I would read their multiple daily thoughts and accuse God of using them more than He is using me. I would imagine their perfect little Nashville scene with myself just on the outside of that circle. Sigh.

I took my friend’s advice and deleted all the folks I followed with the exception of 7 local friends and my pastor.

It honestly helped. I stopped worrying about not being invited to their dinner parties, even though they don’t know me from Eve. I started seeing God’s hand in my life more clearly. I stopped having a sense of personal inadequacy despite my hard hard work. It’s been quite good I must say.

But I’ve also missed my non-friend friends. I’ve missed knowing what goes on in their lives. I’ve missed hearing about their travels and favorite meals, and exciting adventures.

I’m not sure what to do about it. I may add them back, or I may not. But I’m puzzled by the way the mind functions. After all, who cares that the taco joint in Nashville serves the best guacamole in the world? And who cares whether the weather is still beautiful in Houston? And who cares that the airport can be a “famous” Christian meeting place rather than just a tedious waiting room for the needy traveler?

Some things I know in my head but find hard to practice. Can I handle the pressure of placing myself again under the gun? Or is it like a drug addict visiting Tijuana? Or a porn addict with unlimited internet access?

Where do I draw the line of feeding my curiosity without it becoming a stumbling block?

The Christian life is full of decisions like that. We call them gray areas. They aren’t moral rights and wrongs, but every action must be weighed against its consequences. Do you proceed down that lane, or do you stick to a safety zone?

As I ponder my personal dilemma, I ask that you ponder yours. If you’re facing a point of decision on a grey area, ask yourself the question: what is the wisest choice in this situation? Some have asked “what would Jesus do” and I believe that’s asking question with that same spirit of wisdom. Would my action bring glory to God, or would it just put me or others in a place of defeat?

I guess for now I’ll stick to my new “Christian café” account while I meditate over the wisdom of following strangers on twitter. At least the strangers on the online dating site are potential spouses.

But let’s leave my online dating woes to another day!!

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