Where Is the Reformed Pastor?

Blogging most probably.

I now have two blogs, a Facebook account, two email addresses, a cell phone, and a work phone. Oh, I forgot to add that I have a physical address too, not that anybody ever writes letters anymore. Maybe I’ll start a renaissance of letter writing. There’s probably an online community for the restoration of letter writing or something. Even with all of these possible venues of communication, I’m pretty archaic when it comes to the world of connectivity. I don’t use my Windows Messenger account or my Instant Messenger account or anything else that will pop right up in the middle of my workday. I don’t use Flickr or Photobucket nor do I have an account at one of these community picture sites, whatever they’re called. I do use Photoshow from time to time, but you probably already knew that if you visit my other blog.

All my friends tell me that I am the worst person ever about calling people back. That is probably true. I can think of five people right now that I have not talked to in such a long time that I will need to apologize to them once I finally call because I have neglected our relationship for so long. But that’s just it.

With all of the connectivity and online communities, does it seem to anyone but me like our relationships are become broader but not deeper. I have a cursory relationship with many, many people. Yet when it comes to deep, meaningful, intrusive, and personal acquaintances, I can only name a few. Even those people are not in my every day sphere. When I read The Reformed Pastor for the first time I thought, “Now that’s how it’s done!” Getting into the personal lives of the men and women of my congregation seemed like a no-brainer. It had to be this way if I was really going to shepherd anyone. Yet, with all of my connectivity I fail to cultivate relationships on any real meaningful level.

I don’t think that spending more time on Facebook is the answer though. I started an account there today, God only knows why, and am already sort of regretting it. In about seven hours I’ve racked up over twenty friends, most of whom I invited myself. One might think, “Wow. That’s great to have that many friends!” All I seem to think though is, “Geez. Now I’m responsible to check my Facebook account and spend time writing on people’s walls.” Did you catch that? I now have to write on people’s walls. Where did this strange language come from?

The internet is the most lonely community there is. I am in my kitchen typing this post and the kids are asleep in their rooms and Marie is gone on a late night grocery run to buy diapers. She’s been gone longer than it really takes to buy diapers because this is the only “alone” time she gets in her day. If I was with two very vocal children all day I would “forget” to buy diapers a lot too. So here I sit. Chatting it up in a silent community - the only sound coming from my keypad and the air vent. Well, I can hear the fridge running behind me too.

With all the responsibility I have at home, at the church, and at school, it is a wonder I would ever burden myself with such a mundane thing as blogging or maintaining a Facebook account. Why am I not devoting this time to reading or actually meeting with someone for prayer or bible study or just to sit and talk about marriage or internet pornography. Has ministry been relegated to keeping up a blog. Has discipleship really moved into the sphere of MySpace and Facebook? Has the reformed pastor traded in his walking stick for a Mac?

I don’t know, but I can guarantee that my Facebook account is going to frustrate people. People that I love and with which I want to keep in touch. Yet, when I find myself darting back to my bookmarks to pull up the ‘ol Station and check my daily hits or to check how many registered friends I have on Facebook, I get the distinct impression I’m doing something less than productive. Is Jesus pleased with how I’m spending my time? Does he get glory from people knowing what kind of ice cream I like and which albums make it into my CD player? Or would he rather me get up from my desk and spend that extra time actually speaking to someone?

Maybe I’ll ask someone on Facebook?