Friday Fragments

I’ve encountered a dilemma… I wouldn’t call it a moral dilemma, but it’s a perplexing challenge.  Let me paint the picture for you.  A Facebook friend, several years my junior, posts a picture of he and his wife on their wedding day some twenty-five years ago.  In an overzealous effort to commend his bride he scribes the following under the picture. 

“To the most beautiful, most loving, most precious, most spectacular woman in the world.” 

In just a short amount of time an avalanche of “Likes” mound like snow in a blizzard.  I see a list of names that I recognize… all liking the sweet photo and the… well, mildly overdone comments about his very nice wife.

My issue is this; if I comply and follow the trending wave of “Likes,” do I first need to sit Mary down and let her know that she is no longer at the top of my list?  If I simply move with the momentum, have I violated my own integrity, or worse, offended my wife? 

Actually, the situation and the gravity of the dilemma become more problematic and complex.  Another friend uses Facebook to relate some very difficult information about his young son… a five-year-old with cancer.   It reads something like this:  “We were devastated to find out today that Marcus has cancer.  We need your prayers as we schedule follow-up appointments soon.” 

Now what?  Does anyone dare come close to the “Like” button with this update?  Then, with an element of courage people begin to hit the button… they “Like” this post.  The momentum builds as friends ache to simply affirm the love, embrace the pain, join the uncertain journey…

Our love propels us to merge into the pain, and our tears take the form of a “Like” button.  With a click of the mouse we whisper, “We’re in.”  “You’re not alone.”  “God hasn’t abandoned or punished or ignored you.” 

The plan of God extends well beyond our capacity to understand or comfort… and so we simply click the button… dilemma over.  And as the numbers increase next to the names we know and don’t, we’re reminded of the power and beauty of God’s family. 

We hate the evil but we love the person typing on the keys that conveyed this painful message of uncertainty and helplessness.  We are never alone, never abandoned. 

Our “Like” is an act of trust, faith, and commitment to the God who helps us navigate through the experiences of life… from Silver Anniversaries to a cancer diagnosis.  In all things God remains God. 

Praise Him.  Bless Him.  Love Him.

So thumbs up for His community, for His church, for His people who will not sit idly by.  In celebration, pain, doubt and trouble…

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

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