Social Media Sabbatical: I’m so done.
This is where I’m supposed to tell you how much I’ve learned, and how I’m so much smarter or holier now, or whatever. Except I’m honest, so I’ll tell you the truth.
I’m tired of not talking to my friends on Facebook and Twitter. I’m tired of feeling professionally isolated, just as I was getting a little community going. I’m tired of of trying to remember clever things so I can post them after Easter. Also, I’m just tired, because I have two very small children and a teaching gig and a husband and a house and dogs and, oh yes, am in graduate school full time. So I’m just tired.
From a theological viewpoint (mine, at least), there’s no such thing as “more holy” when it comes to people. I’m not more holy at the end of Lent than I was at the beginning, no matter how much I tweeted or prayed or sent prayer-tweets (which I think some people do) or ate chocolate or whatever. I ate a lot of chocolate. That wasn’t my Lent thing, but when I watch the movie Chocolat I think of that, since part of her problem, besides wearing red shoes—the horror!— is that she opens her lovely shop during Lent. (Why does the movie end differently than the book? Can someone please explain this to me?) I also wore red shoes.
At some points, I’ve thought, “Why am I not using my time to pray more? Maybe I should be a monk? Or a nun? Are there female monks? I think just nuns. I’m not Catholic, though. A hermit? Probably couldn’t get my hair done very often. But then I’d have so much time to pray and meditate, and exercise. That would be great! And no one would notice my hair. I should be a hermit!” Then I would realize again that being a hermit is not the point, that the point is living a holy, earthy, compassionate, present life in a very real world. And then I would think, “But crap, that’s really hard.”
What I have learned is this:
1. It’s really good to turn off my internet connection and be present in my own life for a large portion of each day. (Duh.)
2. It’s good for me to have an online community, because they can be encouraging and supportive and incredibly helpful, and I miss them.
3. I can get a lot of homework done when I’m not checking Facebook and Twitter every two minutes.
4. Prayer does not naturally or automatically fill my time vacuums.
5. It’s good for me to do a Social Media sabbatical occasionally, in order to reflect on the purpose of social media (networking, community), privacy vs. transparency (the jury’s still out), and being present in my own life (this is so hard on the best of days, and such a gift when I do it).
6. Facebook and Twitter can distract me from the work of writing, but they also help hone my writing style and creativity with wordplay.
7. There are other iPhone apps besides Facebook and Twitter. Shocking, but true.
8. I’m a much better conversationalist when I’m on Twitter, because the people I follow are so insanely interesting and post the best links. When I’m in that zone, I always have something to talk about.
9. I’m a much better parent when I step away from the phone during the day, even when I think my children are busy doing something else. My attention is precious, limited, and one of the most valuable gifts I can give them.
10. I should have a tenth thing, I guess. Good Friday church service is my favorite church service of the year, because it’s the only time all year that my church does a potluck, and it’s also the most quiet, solemn service of the year. The closet Episcopalian in me really, really loves Good Friday. It puts Easter Sunday in much better context.
So there it is: my social media sabbatical, my Lenten fast, my past six weeks. I’m looking forward to seeing you on Facebook and Twitter tomorrow.
