In addition to completing my DHQ packet for the week, Monday's are also my day to write. I have recently started writing letters to a friend at least once a week (which is fun, because it's nice to look forward to mail--and I received one today, YAY!) and send out cards of prayers, encouragement, sympathy, thanks, etc. I write anywhere from 5-20 cards depending on what has happened over the last week to congregation members, clients, friends, and colleagues. I don't know about you, but I like getting mail. It's depressing when you go to the mailbox and the only things there are statements from your health insurance company, bills, and junk mail.
What happened to the time when writing was second nature...almost an expectation?
Okay, now I'm the first one to defend the ease and practicality of Facebook and email (mostly because of my irrational fear of talking on the phone)...but I guess that's where some of my upbringing in the quality of a nicely written note comes out, because there's just some messages that should not be expressed electronically--and a step further--public messages via electronic means. So birthdays, anniversaries, new baby greetings...sure, I can understand that. Public condolence messages...can't really wrap my head around that one yet.
I guess I look at it from my point of view. The internet is my escape, a source of entertainment, and a time to mindlessly pitter around. Do I want to open up my Facebook and see 15 notifications from people expressing their (heartfelt) emotions and point of view regarding the aspect of my life that I want to escape at that moment? And to play devil's advocate, are the messages expressed truly genuine, or the need to jump on the bandwagon because the 27 people before you have poured out their hearts? Hmm....
Some food for thought...just something that's irked me for a while. I can't say I'm not guilty of what I speak of...I've made this blunder more than once, but it's something that I try to be aware of what I'm doing. It's all about intentionality. Intentional Living. (Okay, so now I'm sound like a Focus on the Family ad)
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I agree with you - although I have gotten far too lazy to write real letters. However, I don't even like giving Birthday greetings on FB...but I am thankful for it because at least I now now when they are!
As for condolences, I hear you. It's also hard when people's statuses are "big news" that you don't hear officially until much later. Again, there are two sides, both good and bad to this...but some of the genuine-ness (not a word is it?) and personal-ness (again?) gets lost.
So while it's good to have access to information and notifications from people all over....at the same time, even some Birthday greetings give me pause 'cause if we were around each other in real life, would that person send me the same greeting?
Did that make any sense?