I got an email yesterday.
I still haven’t embraced the gamut of the social media scene, but several months ago I was looking for a connection to an old friend who is now in ministry in Little Rock. Just wanted to peek into his ministry and read anything he might be writing. This man, in his past life, wrote books about micro-circuitry and taught at the graduate level. I wondered what he might now be writing about ministry in the inner city. In the process I signed into Facebook. Didn’t do anything but the bare minimum: no pictures, no personal data, nothing. I just signed up.
My friend Harry apparently shares my hesitancy about social media, although he is definitely the Go-to guy for anything Mac. Like me, he isn’t doing Facebook either.
And I forgot all about anything Facebook.
Until yesterday.
“Hi, this is your old girlfriend from 25 years ago. Just wondering how you are and what you are doing today. Email me back.” (Slightly rewritten to exclude specific names, dates and places which confirmed our identities.)
Now I am a pretty curious guy by nature. And like that funny ape Curious George my curiosity has has reeled in both fun and trouble.
Just. Press. DELETE.
NOW!
“But I am curious . . .”
And a debate ensued within my mind; angel on the right shoulder and devil on the left.
After 30 minutes or so of Perry Mason of the mind, I did it. I just pressed delete. I decided that there are things that are knowable but not beneficial. Couldn’t come up with any good reason to reopen that memory box.
Today I wonder why it took me anything more than a millisecond to hit delete. Being a man is so confusing to myself; no wonder I baffle my wife. I baffle myself. I have a good life. I have a nearly perfect wife. I consider myself a solid Christian. I just don’t know why I would even allow the debate to occur. Sigh.
So it goes with being a man.
I am glad that I am in a good place in life right now. The decision to delete was not really that hard. But, I thought, what if my marriage was in a more tenuous position? Would my decision stand? Would common sense still trump curiosity? I hope so. I think I know so.
Oh men- guard your hearts and grow your marriages.
Blessings
(And if you are wondering- Nope- not telling the wife anything. Some things are better left unsaid.)
Stumble It!