Delete That: (and Other Failed Attempts to Look Good Online)

by John Crist

I read somewhere that the internet allows you to feel every possible human emotion inside of twenty seconds. You can be happy, depressed, angry, thrilled, turned on, disgusted, jealous, and inspired all in less time than it takes to microwave a Hot Pocket. I don’t think our minds are suited for that kind of perpetual emotional roller coaster.

The power of addiction is overwhelming. The need for affirmation is primal. It’s not that easy to just give up.

We spend all our lives so focused on our own lives that we eventually start thinking that everyone else is thinking about us too. But they’re not. They’re thinking about themselves. It would have been nice if I could have learned that lesson back then, but all these years later, I still kind of think that. My video this week didn’t get as many views as normal. I bet everyone is talking about how much of a failure I am. The truth is, we each may be the biggest star of the movie playing in our own head, but in everyone else’s head, we’re just extras.

We’re not all equally good at everything. That’s not the way the world works. So why are we trying to teach kids this? No wonder they get out into the world and fall apart at the first sign of adversity.

So why do we continually follow people instead of following God? Why do we expect humans to be anything but, well, human?