Yesterday we celebrated the life of a wonderful priest, The Rev. Dr Erica Brown Wood. She was the priest who started me along a path of formal discernment that is leading towards my own ordination. She was wonderful in suggesting books to read and asking questions to fuel my thinking. Serving at the altar with her and hearing her preach were all learning occasions. Watching her battle cancer was an inspiration. Knowing she died with Christ is an inspiration. She will forever affect my ministry.
Erica's death is not the only loss that I have experienced this year. (Interestingly, my “year” is currently based more on the academic calendar than the annual calendar.) Earlier this year a college friend also lost a battle with cancer. In both of the deaths I noticed that their respective Facebook pages came alive with comments from friends. It was as if those posting the comments fully expect that there is high-speed internet and Facebook in heaven.
The VTS community also experienced the journey of a student and his long struggle with a brain injury and the ultimate journey to heaven. John was at VTS for only a semester when he slipped on ice and suffered a brain injury, but in that short time he touched all our lives and the lives of those around him. His journey was chronicled daily by his wife Joy. His struggles and successes, and his ultimate reunion at the Heavenly Banquet were all described on Facebook.
I then remembered that the VTS chapel, which burned on October 22, also has a Facebook page chronicling the life and death and resurrection of that Holy Space.
In each of these situations many people learned of the deaths through Facebook. As a means of communication the information spread rapidly. As a method to facilitate healing I am not sure that Facebook is up to the task.
As Christians we are called to be in community. Breaking bread and sharing the Cup in a virtual manner is not the same. The conversations surrounding joy and pain are too complex for a virtual discussion. What the body position tells us, how the silence speaks these are lost in a virtual community. Morning Prayer online is not the same as Morning Prayer in community with two or three people or forty people. Our virtual communities will keep us connected, will get us information quickly, will form new connections. However, it is our flesh and blood communities that feed us. Just as we are fed by the Body and Blood of Christ, so too are we fed by the very real presence of those in our community.
Shalom,
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