Never Have I Felt More Alone

My social media is a strange place.

On Twitter my feed is filled with conservative members of the Southern Baptist Convention. People that I made the choice to “follow” while I was in seminary and that my family and I have connected with along the road toward our theological educations. This is a weird platform because for the most part anyone can follow anyone and there isn’t a choice to accept or decline a follower. Sure there is blocking options but I haven’t found the need for that as of yet.

Then there is my Facebook feed. That is a place filled with my more liberal leaning friends. These are the people I have mostly connected with through the silly live action role playing hobby my family enjoys. These are the individuals who come from all walks of life, who are seeking friendship and relationship and connection. These are the people who very often believe very differently from myself and my family but have still chosen to embrace us as their family as well. These are the people that require a “friend request” and an acceptance into the fold.

Last week there was a huge decision made by the Supreme Court of the United States that overturned a huge decision that was made 50 years ago. A decision that was made when my mom was just a teenage girl. A decision that has sparked controversary from the very beginning.

On Twitter people are cheering and praising God and being generally overjoyed. On Facebook there is sadness, fear, confusion, and anger. On both platforms there is over generalizations taking place. Anyone who happens to fall in one category is suddenly lumped in as “everyone” without taking time to talk to or really engage people as individuals. The one thing I am failing to see, however, is compassion and an attempt to understand.

I wish that I could say that this is the first time I have ever seen something like this happen but the sad truth is that every time something happens that one side or the other doesn’t agree with suddenly everyone on the opposite side of the line is public enemy number one. And if a person happens to agree with part of the issues on one side but not the whole none of that is taken into account. It does not matter.

This week I have never felt more alone in my life. If I sympathize with one friend then another will tell me I am going to hell for my compassion. If I in turn sympathize with another friend I am compared to being a Nazi destined to repeat the sins of the past. And all the while, all I want to do is love those whom are in my path. I want to support those who need support. I want to mourn with those who are mourning. And I want to rejoice with those who have seen successes. But I don’t get to do that. Because if I do then someone on the opposite side will tell me just how wrong I am.

So today, I am resting in the knowledge that with Christ I am not alone, but gosh do I really feel like it right now.