Why I am leaving Facebook

Simple answer: this country girl can't take the barrage of status updates and random info about 364 casual friends or aquaintances... I want, no, need to speak face-to-face with a few real friends, or I'll go nuts.

Long answer: I'm ashamed of the foolishness that goes on. I find myself answering in kind whenever I browse the home pages of people I know. People with quick minds come out in full force to display their wittiness, and I can't compete. You know the Bible verse that says,

"He that walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed." Proverbs 13:20

That is sort of how I view it. There are many wise people who use facebook, but I value their friendship too much to converse with them only on that social network. As for all the normally thoughtful people who get drawn into the foolishness, I say be strong and true to yourself and God, and flee. You may be one of the privileged few who can use facebook well and wisely - if so, praise God! I don't look down on anyone who does, I just use these generalizations to try to wrap my mind around why I have these nagging doubts and convictions that cause me to want to leave the social networking system.

I once heard someone state the opinion that single girls should at least display the fact that, 'here, I'm available!' on internet social networks, and not play 'hard to get'. Hm. If that is what is required in this day and age to get married, we are in a sad state, my friends. Never limit God's power. Just be yourself, and realize that your weaknesses give you the ability to display His power if you let Him work.

The second reason I am leaving is to free up time to focus on my herbal studies, teaching and home dairy business. Even if I only spent an hour a week on facebook, that translates to over two full days of each year that God needs me to focus on other things.

I hope to continue to blog, but even this is a constant struggle against posting foolishness when I should be doing other things. Not to over-spiritualize blogging, but don't you appreciate posts that somehow instruct or build up others, instead of tearing them down or building up my own ego?

I love work. The feeling of doing what God is asking of you at this time in your life is beyond description. Here's a cool verse I found this morning:

"Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before unknown men." Proverbs 22:29

God bless you guys...