Epiphany

Facebook or Facetime?

I started using Facebook.com shortly after I entered graduate school in 2003. Facebook is a social networking internet webpage that connects people, organizations, families, and business. Some of my college friends began to use Facebook and I saw it as a way to stay in touch with people. Facebook was confusing. Why I could see everyone’s business: who they talked to, what they posted, what they said, etc… Now, Facebook is ubiquitous. My parents, who are retired, even have a Facebook page!

Facebook is a great way to connect, but have we replaced Facebook with true “facetime?” Have we replaced what we would do with our friends and family with what we should do in person? Have we lost a sense of personal touch with the use of Facebook? A social networking website cannot replace what we experience in real life.

In our scriptures for Sunday, so much is made about “facetime” with God. In the Old Testament lesson, Moses is face to face with God. After the experience, Moses’ face changes. Moses puts a veil over his face to hide it from the Israelites. In our Gospel text, Jesus’ face and complexion change during the Transfiguration.

Why all this attention to the Transfiguration? The Transfiguration is important and Darrell Jodock in the Christian Century explains why:

church membership, mission

The Mission of the Mission Statement

Mission statements are used by individuals, non-profits, companies, and even government. Mission statements are supposed to focus or clarify an organization’s purpose or outcome. It is easy for a mission statement to be confusing, too wordy, and just too long. Instead of mission statements empowering people, mission statements can be used as corporate propaganda to make investors feel like the company is working hard. Here are some examples of confusing mission statements:

“We have committed to synergistically fashion high-quality products so that we may collaboratively provide access to inexpensive leadership skills in order to solve business problems”

“It is our business to quickly maintain competitive sources while continuing to globally simplify virtual services.”

“We strive to globally provide access to multimedia based intellectual capital and efficiently simplify effective sources to stay competitive in tomorrow’s world.”

“Our mission is to collaboratively leverage existing high standards in content while promoting personal employee growth.”

What the heck does all that mean? Catch phases like globally, leverage, competitive… Katie Irons at Blogcritics.org offers some insight to mission statements:

Epiphany

An Airport Epiphany

I recently experienced an epiphany after an airport security line incident. I was traveling with my wife and my two young children to Baltimore. The Transportation Security Administration allows you to bring larger quantities of liquid for children through the security line. We brought juice for our son to have on the plane. My wife and I thought it would be cheaper to bring juice. However, you have to go through addition screening. I proceed to go through the metal detector and into that glass enclosed waiting area to be searched.

A TSA agent came over with two cloths to wipe my hands. Gee, I didn’t know they were going to clean my hands! Nope. They swiped my hands for evidence of bomb making materials. I watched as the TSA agent went over to a machine to analyze the samples. I heard the machine make some beeps, which didn’t good, and finally print out a report.

The TSA agent walked over and said, “Sir, do you take any medications?”

“Ah, well, not really. Just some creams. Maybe some over the counter stuff.”

“Sir, we found nitrates on you.” The TSA agent said sternly. What the heck! Nitrates! The stuff that blows stuff up? I looked over and saw two other TSA agents rifling through my bag. Oh great! I’m done for. They are going to lock me away in a room without windows and question me for hours. I’m going to miss my flight.

Facebook or Facetime?

The Mission of the Mission Statement

An Airport Epiphany

On Facebook