So Connected your Disconnected

Today after lunch I went by Starbucks to get a coffee and do some reading. I never do this because 1. I don't drink coffee, but since it feels like winter outside i thought it sounded like a cool thing to do....and 2. I never have time to do this (which i really didn't today but i thought i would make time) So anyway as I am sitting there enjoying my nasty cup of bitter coffee I began looking around. The place was full of people sitting and doing the exact same thing. But what I began to notice was that everyone had their faces buried in their laptop or Ipad. Even the groups of people that were there together were not having any sort of conversation.... they were all looking at a screen. They were connected to either Facebook, instagram, pintrest, twitter, Google plus, email, or whatever social media website they may be a part of. They were connected. But it got me thinking. They were all so connected that they were totally disconnected from the real people sitting across from them. What great opportunities they had to engage one another in meaningful conversation but instead choose to engage in this fantasy world of cyber friendships. What has happened to our society? It has become a sad time when we as humans value the companionship of our electronics instead of valuing each other. How many times have we been out to eat with our families and friends only to have everyone staring at their phones looking at FB? How much better could our relationships be in life if we would only put down those things long enough to have real experiences with each other? If Jesus were here in 2012 as a living breathing human i cant see him connecting with you through Facebook. I can see Him showing up at your house or taking you to Outback and being genuinely interested in what is going on in your life. Jesus was about loving people, and part of loving people is taking the time to be involved in their lives....not their cyber life....but the real thing. So challenge yourself to disconnect from all those things long enough that you can truly be connected with those that you love and love you. Social media is not a bad thing...I thank God for it...but when it takes the place of real friendships it is wrong. When you are with your family and friends make yourself put the phone or ipad away and take those precious moments that God has given you with those you love to listen and laugh with them. Because none of us know exactly how many minutes we may have left with them.