In death I knew you

I recently learned of the death of a friend. She was a friend I knew from long ago but reconnected through Facebook. Our correspondence was little which didn't matter as we were the type of friends that could pick up right where we left off and feel like no time had passed. I have very few close friends but those that I consider kindred spirits seem to effortlessly fall into that category. We automatically know how each will react to any situation, and even though we live our lives quite differently there is a complete acceptance and connection that allows for unconditional love. I have read recently about the disconnect that occurs through today's social sites and the digital age as a whole. While I agree on most fronts that we as a society are sitting all alone in our isolated rooms trying desperately to connect to the world outside without putting the physical effort which only leads to feeling more isolated, I can't help but feel that Facebook did me a huge service. I too feel guilty for ever getting on even if only for a few minutes a day. I truly limit my time partly because of the social stigma but mostly because of the feeling of uselessness that begins from the moment I open the app. That being said, I would never have know of her passing had I not gotten curious as to why I hadn't seen a post for a bit. Every now and then my Spidey senses itch and I check on people to see if they are still part of my life. I say life because my words effect how people feel even if they are typed in a post. Their words effect how I feel and what I think about. I hear about struggles and pain and try with what ever kind words I can to comfort and lift. I see an injustice and react with outrage to allow for social change. I rejoice when I see the efforts be rewarded and people sharing their joy and my heart simply aches when my friend dies. There are those who complain about the perfect lives they view on Facebook and how fake it all seems, but I guess I have been blessed to have people who simply share the good, the bad and the ugly intermittently because that is what life is; ups and downs. I never feel that these people are putting on a show because my page is filled with real life happening in real time. Right now there are those struggling to find work, asking for prayers because a mother is sick, pleading for help to sell a home, celebrating their children's accomplishments, fighting to overcome sickness, thanking people for their thoughts, and being bored because they are home alone. My athletes are running marathons, my politicians are arguing the latest trend in the economy, my authors are plugging books, my mothers are birthing babes and my friend died.. I missed her before she went. I searched her out and found that she was gone.... So thanks for the service Facebook. We never would have reconnected to share the very short time she had left and I say thank you because she changed me for the better.