Life in the Way

Spiritual Effects of Internet Community.

Ebbs and Flows of community are more interesting these days because of the internet.  The ability to connect with people at great distances that you haven’t seen or heard from in many years is possible now through searches.  I am a member of the Facebook community (I have a MySpace page, but really never use it) and recently I have been able to connect with old friends from Seton Hall and Icelandic cousins (some of which I have never even met).  It is an interesting phenomena when worlds begin to intersect and community takes on new forms.

I am really happy to connect with some old friends from SHU.  They were good friends nearly 15 years ago, but I had lost touch after I graduated.  SHU was a real tumultuous time in my life.  At the time, I was hard to be around, let alone befriend and yet they hung in with me, even when I could easily be embarrassing to be around.   My memories from SHU (especially the early years) are scarred from the stuff I did (things that I pray my children never go through) yet the fondest of memories were of people like them.  It is interesting when these worlds colide because different times strike up different feelings and the connectability that the interent provide really causes me to have to live in multiple time zones of my life.  I find it therapeutic, but more than that it is great to have another chance to connect and grow together.

I think it is awesome to be able to connect with realitives that I otherwise might not ever meet.  I can read their blogs (at least try and decipher the Icelandic) and be a part of their lives (even if it is a minut one) where I would never have that opportunity.  What is it like to know someone but never meet them? especially family?  I think it is pretty cool and hopefully someday, I’ll get to meet them in person, but it will be like meeting a friend because of the opportunity to interact through blogs, video blogs, photo blogs, IM, and social networking sites.

At some level rediscovering or discovering for the first time someone online is like getting to know Christ.  You’ve never been face to face with Him, but you can still develop a strong relationship through the different avenues of spiritual networking.  Reading the Bible is like reading His blog, praying is like sending an email or an IM, being a member of the church is like being in His network through the church.  Like my friends from SHU and Icelandic family members, Jesus can seek you out and find you, if your out there and accessible.