The other morning on Facebook, I “friended” my ‘ole buddy, Truman.
You know the truth is, “friending” has always been a verb. Thanks to our participation with Facebook, we now have a name for something we’ve been doing for a long, long time.
Our language is so important. How we use the words we use matters. The way we speak to and about the folks in our lives matters just as much. For Facebook, there seems to be a significant differentiation between folks we simply “know” and folks we “friend.” Those whom we friend can be seen on our pages. Those whom we friend have their status updated by the minute. We can see their pictures & learn what causes they are supporting, books they are reading, movies they’re watching, quotes that mean something to them. Our connection to those we’ve “friended” is an intentional relational practice.
Life seems to be going at break-neck speed sometimes. Information is available constantly, 24/7. Often it seems too much, too fast for me. Change is constant and engulfs me – and sometimes it’s too much for my spirit. It seems this pace is a high price to pay for staying connected.
What makes this practice of staying connected worth the risk sometimes is my naming & claiming of daily gifts that are offered – if I have ears to hear and eyes to see. Today I am particularly thankful that my vocabulary has added a new word for my interactions, and more importantly for my heart. “Friended.”
So, you see, a few days ago on Facebook, I friended my ‘ole buddy, Truman. Our friendship will have the opportunity of being different because we verbed one another. Who knows? We may end up being even better friends because of it.
Lesley Brogan is tethered to her village. The middle daughter of a middle daughter, she and her partner co-parent two boys (11 and 8) with their two dads. Life rarely seems easy, but in it, there is energy and wisdom -- and, it seems -- just enough humor to get the village through their days.
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very true, Les. very true.
well said
(wow…friend-ing, a verb. such a concept!!)
I love this! And it’s true — there are folks I have friended on Facebook that I’ve gotten to know better and am now closer to. Seems to me that comes from sharing a little more of our random inner thoughts and daily goings on. Whereas, I might meet one of those people for lunch and not learn as much!
Kind of redefines the whole concept of what it means to behave as a friend — whether “live” or in cyberspace.