Getting to Know You on Social Media

As you probably know, I like social media.  This, despite the fact that I got hacked on Facebook this past week.  There are folks I see on a regular basis who I know very little about and other folks I seldom see who I feel close to because of how they use social media.  Case in point are ministers.  I know several who use the media in creative ways to help us know them.  I know and listen to others who I don't feel like I know at all because, for whatever reason, they don't share themselves.

The bishop with some Methodist
VIPs in a coffee shoe.

An example of the former is Bishop Ken Carter.  He is the United Methodist bishop assigned to Florida.  He's also president of the Council of Bishops.  A very big deal because the United Methodist Church is involved in a world wide crisis right now.  Ministers and laypeople have no idea at this point what the future holds.  The bishop, as you can imagine, has an extremely impressive pedigree.  If you want to be impressed, look him up.  You'll find major achievements galore for not only himself but his entire family.

But that's not what he posts on social media.  I think I've met the bishop once or twice but I'm sure he has no idea who I am.  However, here's a small bit of what I know about him.

• He loves baseball and loves to go to spring training.
• He loves to take walks in the early mornings wherever in the world he is.  
• He's crazy about his family, especially his adorable little granddaughter. 
• He's a Dukie.

Bishop Carter sharing a shot of
fellow Duke fans Rob Low and
his son. 

Bishop Carter is very tall, I believe he's 6 feet, 7 inches tall.  Three or four years ago he fell off the stage at a conference and was seriously injured.  He shared this and the long mending process on social media.  He shares photos of important people with whom he is meeting - but it's usually a selfie taken in a relaxed setting.  And he's usually scooching down to get closer to these folks. He is constantly and publicly complimenting his ministers.  And, along with all this he shares his brilliant mind in a manner that's charming and easy to receive.

For instance, Bishop Carter recently shared the quote below about the importance of mentoring.

My spiritual director told me once that, because of my height, the roles I have been given and being a white male, I need to remember that my voice is louder than I often realize.  I sense that I am speaking normally- someone else might hear it as a megaphone. He was of course guiding me toward humility. - Bishop Ken Carter.

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Priorities Change

I am a compulsive door locker.  Always have been.  House, cars, everything!

A couple of months ago I went to visit my friend Robbi who was at home with hospice (and who has since passed away.)  You can imagine how I was feeling.  Sad doesn't begin to cover it.  But when I got there, I saw a handwritten sign on the front door that made me smile.  It said something like..."Door is open.  Robbi's bedroom to the right."

Fast forward to a few weeks ago.  Dave was in rough shape,  in bed most of the time.  We were expecting a cognitive therapist to arrive some time in the next couple of hours.  In the meantime,  I felt a vertigo attack creeping into my brain.  What should I do?  If I moved around I would become violently ill with all sorts of unattractive symptoms.  If I stayed perfectly quiet I could ride it out.

But how could we receive the therapist and get him to the bedroom?

I quickly grabbed the Magic Marker and taped a sign to the front door that said:  "Door is open.  Our bedroom to the left."  And then I got in bed with Dave and relaxed.  Presently I heard a man's voice calling "Hello."  I replied "Come on in."  And he did.

Later,  after he was gone and I was feeling a bit better, I got a phone call from neighbors who were out for a walk and wondering if we needed anything.  By this time I was on a roll.  I asked that they come in the condo, grab my laptop and a couple of other things and bring them to us in our bed.  They arrived about three minutes later.

I've since quit leaving the front door open for strangers to walk in but that day turned out to be a good day to relax and go with the flow.  And every time I think of that day I also think of Bill and Robbi.  And how priorities sometimes need to be adjusted.

By the way, the cognitive therapist released Dave last week saying his brain seems to be functioning fine.  We're not so sure about me.


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