Disillusionment and Illusions

 

There is a beauty and a danger in this world of social media. I am old enough to remember a world without the internet. Well, without the internet in everyone's orbit. The more I learn, the more I am aware that things were in the development process well before most of us were aware of it. But, I digress, as they say. 

There was a time in my life, and in that of my family, when we went about our daily lives without internet access, social media, and Gasp! cell phones. The memory is clear and vivid of when John got his first 'mobile' phone for business purposes.

Then the day came when he got a new phone, added me to his account and gave me his old phone. My initial response was, "What am I supposed to do with this?" I was a stay-at-home mom who home-schooled our kids. If and when I left the house, the last thing I wanted was for one of the ones I left at home to call me. Fast forward about 25 years, and if I accidentally forget my phone I nearly panic. Although truth be told, very few calls ever come through on it anyway. It's just the principle of the thing, I suppose.

I don't consider myself overly dependent or addicted to any of the social media platforms. But watch what happens if our internet goes down. Life changes drastically. We stream all of our television, so there is that. The only music I listen to comes over my Spotify or Pandora, so it would be deathly quiet. Email, banking, Facebook and even my blog and writing depends on internet access. It's farther reaching than we like to admit.

With my aspirations to become a published author, I am becoming more and more aware of the social media side of the industry. And with that is a growing accounting of numbers. That part, I do not care for. It's why I would have made a terrible salesperson, or multi-lever marketer. Selling product is one level of discomfort for me, selling myself is a whole other dragon I could never in my wildest imagination slay. That accounting of likes and follows are like a public voting of your acceptability. Suddenly we feel we are back in high school and being divided into cliques. Only now, instead of being judged on your clothes, hair and looks, it's about your gifts and talent: the essence of who you are and your calling in life.

If one is not careful, it can demoralize and depress you. One less than stellar post or blog with few likes or comments could cause someone to unplug the laptop and close the journal for good. Believing that they are wasting their time, spinning their wheels or just not making a difference can lead one into a cul-de-sac of defeat.

I found myself there, not too long ago. Feeling that I may be better off spending my time doing something more profitable. Something that would be more beneficial to others. Something a bit more productive with my time. Then I heard a podcast that brought things a bit more into perspective for me. Something that reminded me of several things. 

First, was my Why. Why do I write? I write because God called me to it. He gave me the abilities for it and the love for it. When God gives you a gift and calling, your responsibility is to obey. His is to determine the outcome of your labors...it is not ours. We labor, He is in charge of the harvest.

Next, and this was eye-opening: I was reminded of what we did back in the day. We would have Bible Studies. In person. In our homes. If you are old enough to remember life as I described in the first paragraph, then you may remember attending one of these. Sitting around a table, or in a living room, sharing coffee, tea and cookies? A cross section of generations, sharing wisdom and energy, opening up a Bible and studying together. If we had eight to ten ladies regularly attend, we would consider that a raging success. If one or two told us they were blessed, and grew from a lesson, we were encouraged. 

If we post, or blog, and only have that number follow or readers or comments--we are discouraged. Why? Because we are comparing our results to those of social media influencers who have followers in the hundreds or thousands. The expectation to reach hundreds, thousands or more is not what God has called us to do. If one or two people are encouraged or touched by a post or blog, then the Holy Spirit used my words. God gives the increase, not me. 

I was convicted by this podcast, by this encouraging woman of God. I will not quit. I will continue to open my heart, and my laptop. I will continue to work, hard, to finish what I believe God has called me to do. What He does with the finished product is His call, not mine. Like my life, it is His...I will put it in His hands and trust Him to do what is best.