Facebook has become a pretty sacred space. When I say that, I mean, most people in my age group tend not to put much on Facebook unless they're huge announcements and updates. Partially because we want to get as many "Likes" as possible, partially because we have those people that post way too much about super personal stuff and we don't want to become that guy. Until rather recently, I hardly ever post things. Not for any particular reason other than I just didn't find anything worth sharing. My news-sharing site is Twitter. Then I realized how weird that sounded and have become more free with my sharing and posting.
I know what you're thinking. "Mary, this has nothing to do with God or anything. Who cares about your Facebook activity?" I get it.
Well, lately I've been noticing a lot of news posts and opinion posts and nature posts and all sorts of posts all worth seeing. Something that I'm noticing more and more is that Facebook (and any social media) has the potential do be huge platforms for huge, wonderful changes and unity in the world.
I follow this Facebook page called "UpWorthy." What the site really strives to do is to inspire people and to bring up subjects that are not really brought up all that often. Recently, I saw a video of theirs that brings up the harsh reality of what happens to the people working in the factories that most of our phones come from (watch the video here). It consists of many people in a country we (or at least I) tend to distance ourselves from. Many of the factory workers are fighting cancer because of the Benzene in the process. Something that, in this day and age, should not be tolerated: having workers work with highly dangerous chemicals and dangerous work conditions.
I fought long and hard. Do I post it and waste a post on Facebook? Or do I just become aware of it and throw it out? Wait. Why is that even a question? Of course I post it! People need to aware of this and stop it. I mean, since I'm in college and broke, I can't do anything, but I'll spread the word. So, I posted it.
Then a friend shared the post. In her immediate response, she asked "What can we do about this?"
I was baffled.
She.... she asked what we can do about it. She reached out to her friends and followers and asked what we can do. Instead of complain about this awful thing and "just become aware" of it. She asked what can physically be done now. How amazing is that?
In that moment, I saw the potential for this Facebook thing. To really ask questions and actively seek change for those things that need to change. Not just become aware of them, but actively seek a resolution to the problem. My mind was blown entirely.
I guess I thought I was being a "good Christian" by even opening my mind to this issue. But to actually seek a solution was something I wasn't expecting. Then again, Jesus really didn't become aware of a situation and sit on it. He actively did things. The whole time. Every single story. You don't hear the story of a blind man coming to Jesus, begging for help, and Jesus just going "oh, man. That sucks" and walking away. No. He helps the man. He helps everyone. No matter how far they are, no matter how untrusting, how helpless, not matter what. He actively seeks the solution.
Since then, I've not been too precious with Facebook posts. I post things that I think matters. I've thrown out the idea that people will stop liking me if I share my opinion and instead started seeking out those with differing opinions to attempt to fully understand where they're coming from and so that they understand my meaning. I've started asking questions like "how can I, as a broke college student (sometimes) half a world away, help this?" Have I come up with tons of answers? No. But asking is the next step. Right after "becoming aware."
Now if I can just get to the next step: doing something.
Thank God for Facebook.
Mary Taylor
I know what you're thinking. "Mary, this has nothing to do with God or anything. Who cares about your Facebook activity?" I get it.
Well, lately I've been noticing a lot of news posts and opinion posts and nature posts and all sorts of posts all worth seeing. Something that I'm noticing more and more is that Facebook (and any social media) has the potential do be huge platforms for huge, wonderful changes and unity in the world.
I follow this Facebook page called "UpWorthy." What the site really strives to do is to inspire people and to bring up subjects that are not really brought up all that often. Recently, I saw a video of theirs that brings up the harsh reality of what happens to the people working in the factories that most of our phones come from (watch the video here). It consists of many people in a country we (or at least I) tend to distance ourselves from. Many of the factory workers are fighting cancer because of the Benzene in the process. Something that, in this day and age, should not be tolerated: having workers work with highly dangerous chemicals and dangerous work conditions.
I fought long and hard. Do I post it and waste a post on Facebook? Or do I just become aware of it and throw it out? Wait. Why is that even a question? Of course I post it! People need to aware of this and stop it. I mean, since I'm in college and broke, I can't do anything, but I'll spread the word. So, I posted it.
Then a friend shared the post. In her immediate response, she asked "What can we do about this?"
I was baffled.
She.... she asked what we can do about it. She reached out to her friends and followers and asked what we can do. Instead of complain about this awful thing and "just become aware" of it. She asked what can physically be done now. How amazing is that?
In that moment, I saw the potential for this Facebook thing. To really ask questions and actively seek change for those things that need to change. Not just become aware of them, but actively seek a resolution to the problem. My mind was blown entirely.
I guess I thought I was being a "good Christian" by even opening my mind to this issue. But to actually seek a solution was something I wasn't expecting. Then again, Jesus really didn't become aware of a situation and sit on it. He actively did things. The whole time. Every single story. You don't hear the story of a blind man coming to Jesus, begging for help, and Jesus just going "oh, man. That sucks" and walking away. No. He helps the man. He helps everyone. No matter how far they are, no matter how untrusting, how helpless, not matter what. He actively seeks the solution.
Since then, I've not been too precious with Facebook posts. I post things that I think matters. I've thrown out the idea that people will stop liking me if I share my opinion and instead started seeking out those with differing opinions to attempt to fully understand where they're coming from and so that they understand my meaning. I've started asking questions like "how can I, as a broke college student (sometimes) half a world away, help this?" Have I come up with tons of answers? No. But asking is the next step. Right after "becoming aware."
Now if I can just get to the next step: doing something.
Thank God for Facebook.
Mary Taylor
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