So my birthday is February 10th.
This may come as a surprise to some of you because you just recently wished me a Happy Birthday on March 10th. Let me explain.
I did not want a flood of social birthday wishes coming in on my Facebook wall, so I changed the date to March 10th. I still had about 20 people bypass the system and post on my wall, and I also got a few texts and phone calls. This is pretty normal.
I am not sure how anybody wished each other birthday before Facebook and cell phones, but it seems to be 90% or more of the way we do so now.
So my efforts were rewarded by the people who knew me best calling or texting, and no 762 wall posts on that one special day.
Then came March 10th.
I left it as a joke and as an experiment to see how many people would notice, but I was going to take it down the day before. But I forgot. Because I am an idiot.
I had 90 wall posts waiting for me when I got home. I had a few texts, emails, and calls as well. It created some drama that I couldn't believe! And the funny thing is, about 15 of those 90 posted on my wall in February on my real birthday! I even received a few phone calls from people who called me just one month prior! From the same people!
This is how dependent we are on things we didn't have 5 or 10 years ago. Some of the people who called me were genuinely confused that Facebook reported my birthday on March 10th. It was taken as truth just because Facebook said it. Can you imagine?
Our news comes from twitter. Our business networks come from LinkedIn. Our favorite band's main websites are from MySpace and purevolume. And knowledge of important events is found on Facebook. The social network has taken over our lives!
This "experiment" has led me to announce a fast from ANY social networking from tonight until Saturday. If you want to join me I really think it will be good for your health. I will also be fasting from the internet for 24 hours this Friday for 24 hours.
Please hear me: I am not saying Facebook and twitter are evil, but I am saying we have not only let them distract our lives, but also control them in ways. Ask yourself this: "When was the last time I went on the internet/my phone and didn't check my Facebook/twitter right away?" I mean I forget what I am doing most of the time because I am lost on these networks! I can even be hanging out with people I love and be staring at my phone or computer! WHAT A JERK!
I am putting out a call to join me. Fast from Facebook, twitter, and any other social network websites from now until Saturday. What do you say? This may help you. This may ruin you. That may be a good thing. Take some time to reflect on your real relationships. Your relationship with your family and friends. Your relationship with Jesus. Who knows? You might even make a new relationship - or have some epiphany that you otherwise would not have had with all the distraction!
And maybe for once you can make a phone call... or talk to somebody IN PERSON!
*To be clear I am calling for this fast from 8pm tonight (Monday) to 12pm noon on Saturday. Join me even if just for 24 hours in the middle of the week!
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