YOUNG ADULT

Connected! 

By Daniel Tudorie

Flash

There had been some great days at that youth meeting. The early hours of prayer, the Bible study sessions and the warm fellowship moments would not be forgotten any time soon. Time came for the last hug. The boy turned to his group of friends as he was preparing to leave: “Keep in touch, will you?”

"How could this be possible? Aren’t you on Facebook? Aren’t you normal? You’re weird, why aren’t you connected?’’

Today—Not Yesterday

Today’s world is very different from yesterday’s world. Almost twenty years ago, when my parents fell in love, they used to talk once a week using a public telephone. Shortly after I was born, my Dad got his first mobile phone, one that was nicknamed the brick for obvious reasons. Facebook was launched the year I entered the first grade. Today, if I send a message on WhatsApp, I may get the answer instantly.

So, today, people should be more connected. Very connected. Are they? If not, why?

A Story about a Girl

Middle school. I remember the day she entered our classroom for the first time. When I saw her, I thought, ‟This must be how mute, frozen desperation looks.’’ As our new classmate, she came from a broken family—suffering had petrified her face. She took a seat and returned into her own universe.”

My class fellows weren’t the kindest people. One day, a girl asked her, ‟Are you on Facebook?”

‟I’m not,’’ she answered. As though she’d said something terrible, the other girl replied: ‟How could this be possible? Aren’t you on Facebook? Aren’t you normal?  You’re weird, why aren’t you connected?’’

Nowadays, being connected is a "must." You ‟have to” have at least one account on a social network. People are used to having hundreds of virtual friends. Yet, why are we still so lonely? Why do we still not care about our neighbors?

"Another day as we were talking, I told her something about friends. What she declared then, I will never forget: ‟I don’t have friends. Not a single one of them.’’

As I was trying to tie up a friendship with another new classmate, she approached me. Coming to my desk, she said, ‟I’ve noticed you. You’re different.’’ I was so glad to have a starting point! Another day as we were talking, I told her something about friends. What she declared then, I will never forget: ‟I don’t have friends. Not a single one of them.’’

That Old Message of Reconciliation

Today’s world has changed, but human beings have the same great need they’ve always had—a real and transforming connection with God, reflected in love-filled connections with the people around them. Our mission of sharing God’s love is the same. The same great need of being reconciled, re-connected with God remains, and people need to feel His love through the connections they have with us, His followers. But the ways to accomplish our mission must be daily updated and technology is a priceless help for us.

Keep in touch!

Technology helped the boy and his group of friends. They decided to stay connected not only with one another, but also with their Lord and Saviour: they created a Facebook group and they use an audio conference via Internet every Sunday to pray and share thoughts about God’s Word. I recently joined them, and I am so glad to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere! You don’t necessarily need to be every time face-to-face for worship and fellowship. So, stay connected! And really keep touching people’s lives with your friendship.

Randomthought . . .

. . . Do I connect others to Jesus?“We never needed close connection with God more than we need it today” (Ellen G. White, Child Guidance, p. 471).

Daniel Tudorie
Daniel is almost 18 years old. He was born and raised in Romania. He is a student at the Adventist Theological High School, "Stefan Demetrescu," in Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. He likes learning new things and enjoys the beauty of nature around him,art and the people he meets. His dream is to become a pastor.

'+element.CommentMessage+'