Done with Facebook

I just deactivated my Facebook Account, and boy does it feel good!

I jumped on the FB Bandwagon waaaaaaaay after it seemed like everybody else was on it.  At first, it was addicting, meeting up with old friends online, and seeing how everyone has changed since high school.  I even thought maybe I could heal old wounds by "friending" my old high school boyfriend that I had dumped when I met Phil.  Guess what he wrote back?  "You've got to be kidding me."  Ouch, I guess someone doesn't want to forgive me.

After the initial enthusiasm, I basically used FB as an email system.  I never checked other people's updates, because really, I don't have the time or energy to care if it's 3 am and you can't sleep.  And I didn't post anything like that because why would you care? 

Phil thinks FB is from the devil.  He thinks it's a major time-suck, it makes people live in the past instead of moving on, and it creates false friendships.  He thinks if you were friends with someone in real life, you would pick up the phone and not turn on your computer.  Would these "friends" bring you a meal after the baby is born?  Would they come to your parent's funeral?  Would they lend a hand in a difficult situation?  Or do they just want to see pictures of you and your family (sounds a bit stalkerish, right?)?  He's finally led me to see the light.

I really have a hard time finding any value in voyeurism and nosiness, even when  weighed against the opportunity to connect with friends.  FB creates idle curiosity and steals time away from doing many other productive things. 

It's not only FB that can do this....I have been becoming more and more convinced that watching tv, blogging, reading magazines can all be wasteful when used to the excess.  There is a benefit to downtime, after all God rested on the 7th day, but I think we will be judged for what we do with that free time.  If our physical bodies are properly cared for, our spiritual souls at peace, our family all looked after, the financial needs of our home being met, and our good duties done for the day, then sit and relax! 

But, until I can get the rest of my priorities in order, I will be limiting my time with all things idle (if not cutting some out completely) during Lent to help improve my sometimes nonexistent prayer life.  I need all the help I can get, and if unplugging from the computer or tv will help me get a bit closer on the path to holiness, then I would be a fool not to do it. 

"Idleness appears as desire for a quiet life; yet can rest be assured apart from the Lord?" ~St. Augustine