Why log back in?

There was a time when I couldn’t wait to log on to Facebook, with the hope I would catch up with a friend I hadn’t seen since my high school years or add the new ones I would meet through Fresno State or my work as a sports writer. As it was, I used FB as a platform to share my stories and personal talents to the more than 1,000 people who were FB friends with me.

But now I can’t even look at the website anymore because of how divided it looks.

What was once a place where getting re-acquainted with old friends, meeting new colleagues, posting pictures of a work accomplishment or creating a photo album of your kids growing up has now been replaced with politically and racially charged posts…all with the intention of determining whose side you’re on.

What happened to adding friends instead of dividing them?

Posts that illustrated a family milestone have now been swapped with a political or “lives matter” rant, getting the FB user to dare their friends to unfriend them.

What happened to adding friends instead of dividing them?

It’s like that friend request was for nothing other than to inflate your friend contacts. Or maybe, the user had an epiphany and realized that if someone didn’t take their side, it was time to clean house.

But again, what happened to adding friends instead of dividing them?

I saw a brush fire that was spreading as I scrolled down the site. A fire that I felt was best for me to leave instead of staying and fighting it. I’ve actually had people question my decision to go ghost on FB, even someone telling me ‘You’re allowing them to win.’ Nope, I disagree. It was a brush fire rapidly spreading and what do you do when you see a brush fire? You pack up, evacuate the premises and watch things either burn down or get controlled, then get back on your feet. I love my FB friends, but I don’t love what they posted.

I long for the days of what FB used to be: an online oasis where you can be at peace, see how happy your friends or family members were, or tell your buddies how much you value them. I still believe a day will come when I can log back on again and see the positive changes from some of my contacts. That day isn’t now, though. I’ll allow these people to put their own flames out themselves while I pray for their peace.

I’ll end this by sharing 2 Corinthians 7:14, which states: