Unfriended: A Poem to Ponder
The other day I had a friend on Facebook unfriend me. This person was not the type of Facebook friend that I had never met except online but someone I had done life with, someone I had known for decades, someone Donna and I have had dinner with—this was a real life friend. It was not the first person that has unfriended me, stopped supporting b because of my posts, and I am pretty sure it will not be the last but for some reason this unfriending lead to me writing the poem below.
This poem in some ways is my prayer that I will not write people off, step away from conversations, that I will be able to listen to difficult truths.
As you read the poem below what might God be speaking to you.
Unfriended Suddenly they're gone fingers in ears eyes now closed— not the first currently, the last in a long line of individuals who have left unfriending, un-supporting, un-engaging decades old relationships discarded, severed friends no more their parting words “Your posts make me so sad and angry….” not as hurtful as some but still I am left wondering What is it that I won’t hear, can’t hear when do I choose to stick my fingers in my ears close my eyes tight departing the conversation unwilling to seek understanding look for a modicum of truth, common ground blind to the heart of the person speaking, posting choosing to not give the benefit of the doubt rather ascribing certain, often unflattering, motivations— Search me God, know my heart, and show me what I do not, will not, don’t want to see in me in the world, and lead me onto the pathways of justice, righteousness, lovingkindness and truth.
(Last stanza adapted from Psalm 139:23-24, 89:14)
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