Saving a Soul from Social Media

I am a reader. Every day I read multiple articles and at any given time I can be found in the process of reading two or three books. Social Media has given me so much to read – much of which is questionable. Many times I have considered canceling all my social media accounts. Instead, I have tried to regulate my feed by un-following some and intentionally finding people I want to hear from and following them.   It has helped somewhat. Despite this, all over social media I still see people destroying people.C.S. Lewis wrote, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations -- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit. ... Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”   (The Weight of Glory)People are immortal souls formed by God. We are created in God’s pure and glorious image. He adores us - each and every one of us, with no exception. He is utterly committed to us. Human souls are immeasurably precious to him.Why then do we think it’s okay to use social media to publicly mock, shame, blame and find fault with human souls – souls we have never met, souls whose full story we don’t know? People are sacred – yes, even the ones who act debased - are of immense value to God.I am overwhelmed by the courageous acts I have recently seen via social media from ordinary people in Texas who, to their own danger, have set out to rescue others who have been caught up in stormy waters. We all recognize the value of human life. In our societies we purposely set up institutions to protect human life - fire departments, police, emergency services.   When a life is in danger we expect, no, we demand, a response.This protection, this care, this instinctive understanding of the value of human life can, and should, be carried through to the entire human soul. Let us bless. Let us use our words, on social media, in person, to one another, to bring a rescuing blessing to others. Every single day people around us are drowning, surrounded by floods so deep it hurts to breathe. Let us show courageous acts of kindness and bless them. What if our social media streams turned from vicious attacks on strangers to the kindness of strangers? What if we truly see fellow human beings as the holiest object presented to our senses?What if the kind words you sow today saves a soul from a lifetime of destructive hurt and sets them on a path of seeing themselves as God does – infinitely precious. What if you wade out in the storm of destruction against a person and your kind words saves a soul from death?“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” 1 John 4:20