{"id":19,"date":"2009-07-30T16:41:30","date_gmt":"2009-07-30T16:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/honestly-with-sheila-walsh\/2009\/07\/a-fad-or-a-place-for-connection-and-hope.html"},"modified":"2009-07-30T16:41:30","modified_gmt":"2009-07-30T16:41:30","slug":"a-fad-or-a-place-for-connection-and-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/honestly-with-sheila-walsh\/2009\/07\/a-fad-or-a-place-for-connection-and-hope.html","title":{"rendered":"A fad or a Place for Connection and Hope?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some fads seem to spring up in our culture and for a moment they are everywhere, and just as quickly, they are gone. I wondered at first whether Twitter, Facebook and other social media networking outlets that have spread like wildfire would share the same fate. It would seem however that they have found a place within our hearts, homes and daily lives that many of us would be reluctant to give up. At first, I just liked knowing where my friends were and what they were doing, but then something happened that changed everything for me. <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I read a ‘tweet’ from a friend asking for prayer for a little girl, Kate McRae, who is five years old and has been recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. There was a link to a Caringbridge site that told more of Kate’s story and I began to pray for this little one and for the rest of her family. I asked those who follow me on Twitter or who are Facebook friends to join me in asking God to have mercy on this child. Many others did too. I now know that thousands and thousands of people are daily lifting up this whole family in prayer. A friend of mine who is the Director of an International Relief Agency said to me, “I think this is the greatest use I have witnessed of a social media site.” Within moments now we can alert people all around the world to a particular crisis or injustice and raise our voices together. I still love to know where my friends are and what they are up to, but I am very grateful to be part of a connected community that believes in the power of prayer and support. <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

There are many people who count it a true joy to share the things that make you smile and the things that weigh you down. You are not alone. <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

“Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself.” Galatians 6:2-3 (NLT)<\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fads spring up and are everywhere, and then they are gone. I wondered if Twitter and Facebook would share the same fate, but they’ve become a place for connection and hope.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,3,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-comfort","category-hope","category-prayer"],"yoast_head":"\nA fad or a Place for Connection and Hope? - Honestly with Sheila Walsh<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/honestly-with-sheila-walsh\/2009\/07\/a-fad-or-a-place-for-connection-and-hope.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A fad or a Place for Connection and Hope? - Honestly with Sheila Walsh\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Fads spring up and are everywhere, and then they are gone. 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