Who is watching me ? I have noticed over the last few years a disturbing thing on my cell phone and computer. It seems someone or something is/has been watching my online presence. They know when I have booked a room somewhere because restaurants near the place where we are staying, pop-up on Facebook . And when I am typing an email, things I write in the email will show up the next day on my Google searches.
On Facebook, a social media site on the Internet, it now has this function to get you to like more people, called “ People you may know “. It has people on that feed that I know from high school. It also has people connected to some people I already know. Recently, there was a woman I might know, who walks in the morning at the Rec Center. I walk at the Rec Center too. I assume that Facebook has my location of my cell phone tracked , and maybe hers as well, and Bingo, I might know her. She came up on my feed. Wooooooo !
A few years ago I had “shared “ a story about the United States and its security issues. It was critical of the the things that the U.S. had done in the world to other countries. I am left of center in my political views, although I reserve the right to be conservative as well. Anyway, I posted this on Facebook, and within the hour, I get a “friend request “ from a school friend of mine who is working for Homeland Security in the U.S. He was working under Obama, and was working with faith groups in community building. I had visited him in Washington in 2011. I had not heard from my friend in over five years. It felt strange to get this post to be his friend on Facebook right after I had posted the article. I accepted his friendship. I am not scared.
I am not into conspiracy theories, but I am assuming that Google and Facebook track my thoughts and internet traffic. They know my location , if my phone or computer is on. I am not scared about this. But, if I do something questionable, will they share that information with people like Homeland Security. When I cross borders, my passport is scanned and they know where I have been in the last ten years . I do not worry about this, ( I do not worry that this article I will be posting on WordPress, and I will post in on Facebook, and you will find me in your next Google search of my name) but I do think about it. What does it mean for who I am as a person ?
God, as I experience God, is the same way. God knows my words, actions and internet travelling . God knows that I lean a little left of center. But , I really know that Gods loves me, and God cares about my every move. Through the Bible, God’s Spirit and the Church, I know that I do wrong, and should be called to turn my life around.
But, God is not about fear and conspiracy theories. God is about mystery, and faith, and love beyond all understanding and all knowledge. Whom do I follow , God or Google ? Who do you follow ?
Fred Redekop
Ponder Anew 