Disclaimer:  Our church has a Twitter account, a Facebook page, and a website.  We are not opposed to such things.......
     Have you noticed how many people respond to social media questions?  Do you remember the 2008 election, when more votes were cast in the American Idol contest than for president?  (Admittedly, AI lets folks vote more than once, but still..) 
      Since then, it's become commonplace that people with Twitter accounts can 'vote' in real time on the NBA Draft  ("Do you think Player X should have been the #2 pick? Let us know!").  Folks on Facebook are asked to react to news stories ("We are following the breaking story of the puppy who rescued a kitten.  Let us know how you feel about puppies rescuing kittens!") Instagram account holders can stream pictures that define their lives (I was at the airport and was THIS CLOSE to the guy who was in that movie about those people!!!) It sounds as if I am making fun of social media - and truly I'm not - but my genuine concern is that we will somehow grow to mistake reacting to showing up.  That we will somehow think that by weighing in with our opinion (Yes, Frank, I've got to say that I don't believe that a species should save members of other species, but kudos to that pup!) is a substitute for thinking, caring, or actually taking part in something. 
      However you feel about the recent SCOTUS decision on the Voting Rights Act (and believe me, I have some strong feelings about it) please remember that anyone over 18 SHOULD ALWAYS VOTE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, AND SPEND TIME RESEARCHING HOW AND FOR WHOM TO VOTE.  However you feel about the recent SCOTUS decision on DOMA (and I have some equally strong feelings about that), don't dare base your opinion on what someone told you or what you were told the Bible says or because of your personal feelings. The laws of a just society cannot be based on how we feel. All citizens should read the primary articles, not the Cliff Notes.
     There are some in my profession to want to claim that this country is going to hell in a handbasket because of who others love, or what gets posted on courthouse walls.  I would counter that our country would be better served by people who understand that spouting an opinion on Facebook is not enough.  That hitting the "like" button on an organization is not the same as volunteering, contributing, or writing a check.  That changing your profile picture is no substitute for being involved. Being a valuable member of society requires time, dirty hands, thinking, and being involved.
     Hit "like" if you agree.  :-)
     

Our church service is broadcast (with a one week delay) on the local cable system.  Not exactly national exposure, but it seems to be watched by more folks that one would think.  (Especially if that one was me.)  From time to time one of our members who are home bound will tell me how much it means to be able to watch church and at least feel a part of the larger community.  Our TV guy Roger spends hours each week making sure it is edited in a crisp way; he types in the Scripture passages and the lyrics to the hymns. Each month he reminds me to tape a little 1 minute opener for the audience to see before the tape of the service runs;  I always end it by saying "Let's go to church."
     And then I am at the IGA - and someone I've never seen before smiles at me and say "Let's go to church!".  I am browsing at CoffeeTree and a person I've never met comes up to me and thanks me for something I said in a sermon.  They are strangers to me, and their kindness is wonderful and heart warming. They feel comfortable enough to come up and speak. Those random moments of kindness mean more than they will know.  It encourages me to practice those random acts on a more regular basis.
      Then I start wondering who else has noticed me,  and it gives me pause.  Because I am not always the best person in the world.  Oh, I try to always remember to return my cart to the cart corral, and say 'please' and 'thank you', and not huff and puff too much when someone in front of me in the 15 Items or Less line has 47 items.  And is talking on their cell.
      In other words, people notice.  I remembered that more when the children were little, but it is still the same now.
     And before you get to thinking how lucky you are that folks don't always notice you.......well, they do. Maybe it doesn't feel fair, but it's the truth. It's important to remember that our walk should match our talk. And always............ kindness matters.
      

We are lied to every day.  Oh, I don't mean just the obvious folks - the ones who tell you that true love comes when you use a certain razor blade, or that 98% of all doctors recommend Prescription X. I mean much more insidious sorts of lies....
     Television shows that convince us that Real Housewives routinely throw tables and wear hair extensions.
     Radio shows that convince us that "THEY" are out to get "US" (your mileage may vary on exactly who THEY and US are)
     Newspaper ads that convince us that the best way to honour veterans (fathers, mothers, America, Scouts) is by buying a new mattress.
      BUT............then it goes a tad deeper still.
     Each day we are surrounded by folks who are tense enough to hum like a telephone wire.  And we breathe than tension.
     Each day we are surrounded by folks who are sure that their lives are being ruined by a group of people.  Nameless people.  People who don't think as they do.  And we breathe that paranoia.
     Each day we are surrounded by noise, advertising, and claims that encourage us to engage our paranoia, our tension, our fears - because otherwise...  And that's where it falls apart.  Otherwise, what?
     I am not suggesting we go through life in a state of ignorance.  But we are what we listen to.  We are what we eat.  We are what we breath.
     So we have choices.  To surround ourselves with others who speak hope.  By noise that fosters peace.  By silence that fosters wisdom. We see what we look for.
     Scripture says perfect love casts out fear.  And every day we see that the opposite holds true as well - perfect fear casts out love.  Evidently they cannot coexist.  
     I choose love.  I choose truth.  And every day I will have to intentionally not buy into other lies.  It's hard.  But it's the only way.