{"id":202,"date":"2012-08-10T16:43:31","date_gmt":"2012-08-10T16:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/onfire\/?p=202"},"modified":"2012-08-10T16:43:31","modified_gmt":"2012-08-10T16:43:31","slug":"cartoon-facebook-and-how-are-you-spending-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/onfire\/2012\/08\/10\/cartoon-facebook-and-how-are-you-spending-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Cartoon, Facebook and “How are you spending your life?”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Dan Piraro\u2019s<\/a> cartoon (left), ironically, is making the rounds on Facebook.com. When I saw it, I chuckled and promptly posted it to my own home page.<\/p>\n

The cartoon pokes fun at us.<\/p>\n

It also asks us to reflect on how we are spending our lives.<\/p>\n

How am I spending my time? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Watching, reading, listening to attention-grabbers\u2014the Kardashians, Honey Boo Boo (really?), the latest celebrity scandal\u2026<\/p>\n

Or being siphoned off into an artificial existence on the internet, playing video games, devouring pulp fiction or listening to news \u201canalysts,\u201d who tell us\u2014stupid Americans that we supposedly are\u2014what to think?<\/p>\n

How much time do I spend imagining, planning or consuming food and drink? The Food Network. While people in other countries spend their entire day trying to find some? (Does anyone else see the craziness of this?)<\/p>\n

Or when eating a biscuit drowned in butter doesn\u2019t comfort me, I go shopping.<\/p>\n

How much time do I spend on knowing my purpose and doing that<\/em>?<\/p>\n

What thoughts do I dwell on?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s no use<\/em><\/p>\n

No one cares about me<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m a failure<\/em><\/p>\n

This world is whacked and stacked against me<\/em><\/p>\n

Or<\/p>\n

God is in control<\/em><\/p>\n

There is truth and beauty all around me<\/em><\/p>\n

I am loved<\/em><\/p>\n

Seen and recognized or not, I am going to live the best life I can.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>What am I focused on, aiming for?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Myself<\/p>\n

My needs<\/p>\n

My wants and<\/p>\n

Who I can use to further my self, needs, wants?<\/p>\n

Or<\/p>\n

What others need?<\/p>\n

– – – – –<\/p>\n

Pondering these questions creates a strange ache within me. I follow the ache to a longing for God\u2014to know Him and to live the\u00a0 life He created me for.<\/p>\n

I \u2018hear\u2019 two additional questions:<\/p>\n

\u00a0What does God want?<\/strong><\/p>\n

And, then,<\/p>\n

What do I want, really?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do I want 2,000 Facebook friends and Twitter followers and blog readers and\u2026<\/p>\n

Or<\/p>\n

Do I want to love\u2014give eye-to-eye, thoughtful, sacrificial, positive action\u2014to another person<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Child<\/p>\n

Family member<\/p>\n

Coworker<\/p>\n

Stranger…<\/p>\n

…today?<\/p>\n

– – – – –<\/p>\n

Dear Reader: this is a new Beliefnet blog. I need your help to make it a success. Would you subscribe (see bar above on the right) plus share this post with a friend who may enjoy it? Also, I appreciate your comments.\u00a0 Thank you, Gloria <\/em><\/p>\n

Gloria@gloriarose.com<\/a><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

@gloriabethrose<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dan Piraro\u2019s cartoon (left), ironically, is making the rounds on Facebook.com. When I saw it, I chuckled and promptly posted it to my own home page. The cartoon pokes fun at us. It also asks us to reflect on how we are spending our lives. How am I spending my time? 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