I gave up Facebook as a spiritual discipline during Lent. Most of us have a love/hate relationship with social media. It displays and promotes the best and worst of people.

I joined Facebook to connect with parishioners, colleagues, and friends. I quickly discovered its addictive nature, unconsciously checking posts in idle moments.

Therefore, I gave up Facebook during Lent. The seven-week hiatus broke my habit of constantly glancing at a phone. It enabled me to be more mindful of the world, enjoying my surroundings rather than staring at screens.

I returned to social media after Easter, but I only check Facebook twice a day. I also turned off the notifications. This strikes a healthy balance between connecting with others and wasting time on inane posts. Perhaps others feel the need to set appropriate boundaries, too.  

To misquote Jesus, Facebook was made for people, not people for Facebook. Social media makes a wonderful servant but a terrible master.