Finding God in 140 Characters or Less

Can any of you religious people out there tell me where God was in this tragedy?

That plea went out several months ago on an acquaintance’s social media page after a particularly horrific story hit the news. While my first instinct was to start typing, I ultimately chose not to respond. The comments from both atheists and supposed Christians were already heated and ugly, and had nothing to do with sincerely answering the question or showing any type of love for God or their fellow man.

In the days that followed, I regretted missing that opportunity to spread a message of hope but wondered what I could have possibly said in 140 characters or less that would have had any impact – particularly in what had become a hostile environment.

Fortunately or unfortunately, social media, texting and apps seem to have become the preferred means of communication for many folks today. Long face-to-face talks about faith and life, joy and tragedy are not yet things of the past, but they are becoming more scarce and thus, all the more precious.

Yet people still reach out for comfort and still need to hold onto hope, wherever and however they can find it. Fitting the complexities of life and faith into bite-sized snippets that maintain some semblance of meaning is becoming the challenge of our times. How can you do that? When should you do that? Here are some dos and don’ts for helping someone who has reached out for faith support online.

• Don’t try to be a counselor. If someone is having a serious issue with drugs, alcohol, depression, abuse, marriage or family, encourage them to seek professional help offline.
• Don’t put pressure on yourself to solve their entire problem in a single interaction. The best counselor in the world can’t do that, and you shouldn’t expect yourself – or take it upon yourself - to do so either.
• Do try to help and offer support to get them through the more “everyday” struggles and challenges of life – after all, that’s what friends are for – even if they are “only” Facebook friends.
• Don’t be afraid to take it offline. Pick up the phone and give the person a call. Go out and grab a coffee. Take them to lunch. Human interaction is much needed, particularly when someone is going through a rough time in their lives.
• Do share inspiration. Post a favorite Bible verse. Share a link to a Sunday sermon that seemed tailor-made for them. Suggest an inspirational page. There are countless ways for you to show a struggling person something about God, faith and hope without you being the one to tell them something. As Saint Francis of Assisi wisely noted, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
• Don’t be negative and do stay above the fray. Always strive to show a small reflection of God’s love in the way you treat people – both in real life and in your online interactions. (There are some folks out there who will be offended at the mere mention of God, and you can’t help that or change them. Just try not to be drawn into a heated battle that only scars everyone involved – after all, you’re trying to support a friend, not win a debate.)
• Do keep their privacy in mind. Posting a public comment about a private life event might make the situation worse.
• Do show you are thinking about them. Unexpectedly post a quirky or meaningful picture on their page. Tag them in a funny old photo. Message a link. Sometimes the best medicine is simply letting someone know that they are in your thoughts and prayers.