I can hardly believe when I sign on to my blog to post these days how much time passes between them. Was it really January 27 when I last sat down here to write about telling our stories to each other? So much has happened in my story since then, and I can’t believe I haven’t told you.
For one, I had my latest blood test this week to track my cancer tumor marker, and everything was normal again. I am so thankful to Jesus for this continued good news. I try very hard not to take this news for granted, knowing full well that many people did not receive good news that same day. In fact, just minutes after the nurse called to tell me my results, I got into the car with a friend to attend a funeral of a man my age who died of brain cancer.
Another good part of my story that I haven’t yet shared is that I am going on a vacation this week — a much needed vacation, to Texas to visit my friends, Jon, Shelly, and Tanner Bergeron.
Although the busyness of life makes carving out the time to sit here and type these posts a little challenging — you all know how these things go, a bigger issue I have been wrestling with lately is technology overload. Having a blog, a website, two email accounts, and a Facebook page often leave me with something akin to media guilt. Some days, I feel like I’m on the computer too much, yet I still don’t post blogs, update my status, or change my web content often enough. And I haven’t even mentioned my cell phone or Ipod!
There are so many good things that happen as a result of all of this technology. I have received so much encouragement through your feedback on this blog; I’ve reconnected with many old friends and classmates through Facebook; and I don’t know how I would ever arrange dinner plans or rides to the airport without email anymore. But to be honest, I’d rather meet you for tea and tell you about my life than deliver the message electronically.
Also, I don’t want to fool myself with all of this techonology. Is it really reasonable to expect that I can keep up on the lives of 209 friends on Facebook? (Not to mention all of the other friends I have who don’t even know what Facebook is.) Is all of life really so black and white that I can describe it in a one sentence status, or even a seven paragraph blog post? Do I really believe that a public forum is the best place to process my most intimate struggles?
Of course the answer is “no” to all of these questions. And I’m not REALLY planning to give up any of these technologies anytime soon. (I’m practically addicted to Facebook Scrabble, afterall).
Really, the point here is that I had this good news about my blood test and my vacation, and I didn’t want my computer screen to be the first to know. I wanted YOU to.
Technology is important, but YOU are more important to me.
Love hearing your voice… even if it’s techno-mediated.
Hey, have a great time in Texas.
So good to hear your news from your test! Love, Chrisy Hinesley
So glad to hear the good news! Enjoy your vacation.
Aw, I like the way you put that, Charity. You wanted “me” to know, not my computer. That makes me smile.
Congratulations on being healthy enough to take a vacation far away from doctors and medical professionals! That’s great news. I pray you get to rest, refresh and reconnect with your friends.
I haven’t played the Word Challenge game yet. I’ll have to find it on Facebook so we can play together.
Great to hear, Charity. And nice that you’re getting away to some friends, and away from the cold (hopefully).
Yes, even though I’m not into all of that (a friend has invited me to Facebook, but I haven’t done so yet), I know I can spend too much time on the computer as well.
Good to connect in person with people, though this media does let us communicate well with words, anyhow.
Wonderful news, Charity.
I have similar feelings on the technology. It’s wonderful, but am I really connecting with people?
And I’m a Word Challenge addict myself…