Monday, June 7, 2010

Too Connected?

I wonder about it sometimes.

Do we spend to much time online, connecting with strangers via things like blogs and twitter?

I was reading a thread in an online community about tweeting during an emergency, and recalled a conversation I had with a friend of mine several months ago. She was astounded at the idea of tweets and facebook updates from someplace like the ER with a sick or injured loved one. Me? I wasn’t put off by the idea at all.

I have met some fantastic people through my internet connections, and I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if I put out a plea for prayer, it would be met. If I am at a point in an emergency situation where I’m not able to comfort or help my child in any other way, I can reach out to a huge number of my friends and family with one quick text message.

If you’ve ever spent time in an emergency room, you know as well as I do that much of what you’re doing is waiting. Waiting on a doctor. Waiting on x-rays. Waiting on someone or something. If I don’t have SOMETHING to do in that time, all I’m doing is worrying. Making myself crazy with the not knowing.

If I can reach out and mentally grab someone, know that they are holding me in their thoughts, even if they aren’t sitting by my side physically…

I’ll take that.

So, if I’m at a point where I cannot personally do any more to comfort or help my child, or husband, or parent; if I’m sitting in a waiting room, scared and alone, I will probably tweet. I will reach out to you, desperate for your prayers and support. And be thankful when it’s there for me.

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4 comments:

  1. Maybe I'm a bit biased, but I have to agree with you. I would ever just drop my child to send out a tweet. When we're sitting there, though, I see no problem with it. Some don't understand how there are actually some awesome people such as yourself online that are "normal". Connections are forged and friendships are made. I also am very thankful for all of the wonderful people I have found through my computer!

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  2. I agree with Amy. If my child was in crisis, the last thing I would be doing was tweeting! But once all was settled down and we were waiting, waiting, waiting... you betcha I'd tweet out requests for prayer. When my daughter spiked a fever, I tweeted a request for prayers for her, and it was re-tweeted and re-tweeted and re-tweeted, and I was so thankful for all of those prayers.

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  3. I feel the same way ...I don't understand how people end up feeling so alone there are so many ways to connect and I am glad to know so many wonderful people I can connect with and gain support from

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  4. I feel the same way. It is great to be able to connect with SO many people SO quickly.

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