To be or not to be........To post or not to post.......?????????

To be or not to be........To post or not to post.......? That is a question .

Forgive me for abusing our greatest playwright .

Until this morning it was nearly two years since I had posted on the OBOB forum , except for the very odd occasion .

I did take refuge in the Chapel for a while , but at the beginning of the year I decided that I had had enough of the social media and all that stuff .

Last week I was reading a reflection in a Columban Missionary magazine . I share some of it with you .

It reads : " It is only right that we should question our use of the social media . While not allowing it to consume all our time and turn us into addicts , we can ask ourselves if we use it simply to escape ourselves , to avoid boredom , or to build up an admiring group of followers . It need not be like this . We are "connectors" , people who want to bond with others , form relationships , develop friendships . Today , thanks to the gift of modern technology , we are able to link with others across the world and share ideas and skills to build up hope and bring peace . When we choose to use this wonderful gift for the good of others , to encourage them and not to pull them down , we become apostles of hope in this digital age . To choose otherwise is to quench the spirit .

" " You cannot serve two masters , " Jesus said (Matthew 6:24) . If we spend an inordinate amount of time on social media , if we allow it to absorb us totally , whom are we following ? " Where your treasure is , there will your heart be also " (Matthew 6:21) . When we find God in our clever digital tools , using them to build and to nourish , then we are indeed blessed and the Kingdom grows . "

I especially like that last bit....." When we find God in our clever digital tools , using them to build and to nourish , then we are indeed blessed and the Kingdom grows . "

So reflecting on the reflection , I think I will give it a go again , and see if I can find God here and indeed be blessed .

I am sure most of you have your own thoughts about forums and other social media . It might be good to share your thoughts .....God bless .

servant of Merciful Love said:

Hi Colin
Welcome back ~ I missed you!

Click to expand...

Thanks , sister !

The layout has changed quite a bit .

How do i get smilies on a post ?

servant of Merciful Love said:

Click the little smilie at the top of the composition box; they will drop below the box (You may need to scroll a wee bit to see them).
There are a number to select from now; just click the category.
Feel free to pm me if you need help navigating; it can be very confusing at first!

Click to expand...

Thanks again . As you can see i have found them .

S.ilvio said:

Colin, thank goodness you are back. you have been missed.

I respected your decision to give t'internet a wide berth and understood your concerns.

You could only return off your own bat and it appears that is the conclusion you have come to.

Forums can be highly frustrating. All we can do is be true to ourselves and let the cards fall as they will...

Click to expand...

Thanks , Pete .

There seem to be quite a few of the old faces missing .

servant of Merciful Love said:

Sadly some accounts were lost in the switch, and it seems the Tech was not able to restore them all.
It also seems that some chose not to return, see if the tech could restore a lost account, or start a new account.
While there are some nice features/changes with this new format, CF seems to have lost it's spirit
I pray it revives... and the lost return

Click to expand...

That is so sad .

I am not a high-tech fan , but I thought technology was supposed to be at our service . It certainly needs putting in its place when it comes to destroying the spirit of the forum .

Anhelyna said:

Servant - sadly I fear you are spot on there

The spark has gone out of the place

Click to expand...

Hello , Anhelyna .

There is one good thing I have noticed .

I have just visited the Chapel , and there are more using it than there used to be .

I had a restless night last night......nothing to do with OBOB . When I got up this morning I found that I had failed to take some medication.....nothing serious......just a minor inconvenience .

So during the night my thoughts went to what I had been thinking over the last few days .

It is over a month ago since I posted these words......" Last week I was reading a reflection in a Columban Missionary magazine . I share some of it with you .

It reads : " It is only right that we should question our use of the social media . While not allowing it to consume all our time and turn us into addicts , we can ask ourselves if we use it simply to escape ourselves , to avoid boredom , or to build up an admiring group of followers . It need not be like this . We are "connectors" , people who want to bond with others , form relationships , develop friendships . Today , thanks to the gift of modern technology , we are able to link with others across the world and share ideas and skills to build up hope and bring peace . When we choose to use this wonderful gift for the good of others , to encourage them and not to pull them down , we become apostles of hope in this digital age . To choose otherwise is to quench the spirit .

" " You cannot serve two masters , " Jesus said (Matthew 6:24) . If we spend an inordinate amount of time on social media , if we allow it to absorb us totally , whom are we following ? " Where your treasure is , there will your heart be also " (Matthew 6:21) . When we find God in our clever digital tools , using them to build and to nourish , then we are indeed blessed and the Kingdom grows . "

I especially like that last bit....." When we find God in our clever digital tools , using them to build and to nourish , then we are indeed blessed and the Kingdom grows . "

So reflecting on the reflection , I think I will give it a go again , and see if I can find God here and indeed be blessed . "

For over a month I have given it a go , and I now conclude that for me the forum is not a place where I find God . It is not a place for building and nourishment . It is not a place for being blessed . It is not a place where the Kingdom grows .

There are some lovely posters on here , but I must leave .

So when I click on to the "Post Reply" thing , I will go straight to my bookmarks to delete this forum , never to return visibly or invisibly .

Farewell .