Friendships

But what about Facebook?

Don’t expect an article giving you scriptures on why Facebook is part of God’s hidden plan for the world or why it’s the hidden code for 666. In this day and age anything is possible, I mean one day our kids are going to remember Eugene Mthethwa as a political figure with a salary from the president’s office! How did he manage to beat me at this one?
I’ve had friends leave Facebook for good reasons and I’ve had friends join it for good reasons too. One thing I can say about it though is that it’s genius-it’s one of those ideas that you beat yourself up over and over for not coming up with. I mean it’s so simple (except for the parts where fun slides and all those funny pop ups come up) and yet so profound. I believe it speaks to a part of us that we as men try shy away from many times. It addresses the relationship side of things. I doubt it has gotten me many new good friends but it has brought me to a place where I question myself about the real friends I’m making...or not. Many have said it takes the place of genuine friendships as it makes us stare into a dead wide screen (wide-depending on how expensive your phone is or how dead the pc’s are in the computer lab you’re in).
I believe it all really depends on you, how much you are prepared to invest into people’s lives and how deep you build with people. It can only enhance or bring out what’s already there. It’s a good catalyst but our friendships will not survive if we don’t move past the superficial whether a dead wide screen or a dead wide look across from you at church, res, connect group or class.
Here’s a test to see if you are in a friendship with some dead wide eyed people (I’d never suggest that it could be you though. Never!)

This person shows little interest in my life.

This person is unresponsive.

I cannot trust this person to follow up on things I might request.

I am never quite sure what this person is thinking or feeling.

This person keeps most people at arm’s length.

This person’s emotions seem one-dimensional.

This person almost seems to push me away.

This person relates to me as if they have something to hide.

I can never be too sure where I stand with this person.

If you said yes to most of those questions pray and re-evaluate your friendships. I don’t believe you have to have a lot of close friendships-it’s a blessing to have even one true friend you can depend on. If there’s someone there let them know how much you appreciate them and then ask them if they would like to submit an article for HiP mag (come on we’re just starting out we need FREE articles).