The Facebook Exile

It has been over a month since my self-imposed exile from Facebook.

It has been well over two weeks since I notified Facebook that I wanted my account irreversibly deleted, not merely deactivated (it can be done). 

I am officially in exile.

Are there many days when I miss the nearly-effortless way Facebook allowed me into the lives of many I truly care about? Yes, almost every.

Does writing about my breakup with Facebook mean that I deep down feel that it is something everyone should feel convicted to do?  NO! Nada and Not at all. I think great things and a sense of community can come through such a medium. They have in my recent past! In fact, a good friend of mine just went on a mini-fast from FB and waiting for her when she got back on was a message from an organization, requesting to financially support her work with Rwandan orphans. Yay for God using Facebook to connect people with His heart!

Do I sometimes feel like a backwards Hillbilly or the weirdo friend who still has a rotary phone with no answering machine? Yes. I feel apologetic for the "inconvenience" it is to keep in touch with me. It's either the cumbersome email, the house phone (in which all heck breaks loose at the word "hello"!) or the really old-fashioned "house call" if you want to get in touch. I have drawn the line at donning a bonnet and bloomers, so no need to wonder if that's what I would be wearing when I answer the door whenst you "call".

HOWEVER.

While I have remained unaware that 20 of my friends were at various fun places on Saturday night while I was trimming my toenails, that Penelope Golighty's 15 children she home schools (including her triplets in utero) put on a play for the local nursing home that made the front page of the paper or that Suzie Q still looks smashing in a string bikini at age 35 as seen on her 80th tropical vacation of the year photo album, I have taken notice of how much less cluttered my brain is.

Every piece of information my brain takes in, something must be done with it.

In today's world, there is an onslaught of information we are deluged with if we allow ourselves to be. I'm not simply talking Facebook. There's the news (in all it's forms), Twittering, blogging, books, advertising, television and more. It is overwhelming, but because we've become so used to it, we think the clutter is normal.

Because I struggle with being disciplined with what I present to my mind to digest, 

being on Facebook made it even harder than it already was (before it became a part of my life) to do my best with this:

  Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.Philippians 4:8

For many, their struggles lie elsewhere. For me, the best way I can describe the difference in my brain by removing this certain distraction is by these visual illustrations.

My Brain Before The Facebook Exile

My brain post-Facebook

(although still with black clouds threatening the horizon due to being fear-prone)

I hesitate sharing these thoughts, as I so deeply do not want you to read this as my standard of righteousness I think everyone should adhere to. It is most definitely not.

What I am is a woman who longs to be God-focused, contented and clear-thinking.I desire to be freed-up from fear and discontent so that I can participate in being part of His most excellent harmonies. I have a daunting, but do-able (because He says I can do all things through Him!) charge of raising five "beckons of light" who will grow up in a dark world. Knowing my weaknesses as I do, this is one way in which I have been prompted (through an inner conviction and a husband who oh-so-carefully suggested there was "another man" and his name was Facebook) to make myself available to become that woman who is mentally untangled enough to do justice to the job set before me. This Facebook exile is but a sliver of this process, and perfection will not be had on this side of Heaven...but the lack of clutter has allowed for greater clarity of what else needs to 'go' and has made more room for the Truth. 

If you're still here, you're a saint. Thanks for "listening!" and if you're on Facebook, please "like" Parenthood, Fix It and Forget It! and Bare Escentuals for me since they were left with one less "fan" when I left (and are subsequently floundering, no doubt).