Lately, I haven’t been writing as much as I’ve been reading quite a few of some of your introspecting posts. As I read through your sensitive thoughts, a myriad of conflicting emotions rushed within me, as I realized that the one thing we all had in common here was the universal life experience of struggling with the defining trials in a problematic situation.
Whether it was the pain and agony of an ongoing battle with a critical or terminal life threatening disease or the guilt desperation over a lost loved one or the futile efforts of struggling to salvage a love relationship; our situation has all the more emphasized the need to bond with one another and try to get by with a little help from our online friends.
Reflecting on the way some of you handled your own major struggles has all the more encouraged me to face my own personal battles with the same hopeful and positive resolve that have enabled you to conquer your own trials triumphantly.
In your blogs, I’ve reflected on three of the greater virtues in life; which are faith, hope and love. I’ve read about how true and unwavering faith is witnessed in the life of a preacher (HBC). I’m hopefully marveled at the unrelenting hope of those (Sunsethue, Secretlife) who haven’t given themselves up to wallowing pity despite their terminal prognosis of impending deterioration. Truly, hopelessness is not a certainty for as long as we are alive; for God is our unending source of Miraculous Healing and Divine Hope.
Most of all, I’m humbled by the sincere expression of love and genuine friendship that many of you have generously demonstrated. Commenting on other people’s post whether in the form of well meaning advice or kind words of comfort and consolation are nothing more but acts of love being offered to anonymous strangers who come to Soulcast to bare their troubled souls. For in our every voluntary act of kindness, we have actually done it to the least of our brethren.
It is my valid observation that every one of us without any exemption, go through some kind of personal struggles in different phases of our lives and that we all need somebody, sometime to get by our difficult times. For our achievements and failures inspire us, as our hopes and disappointments strengthen us to define the character we were meant to be.
In the sea of humanity, no one man is an island and this much is very true in life whether offline or online. Do you also have the same fondness and closeness for your favorite Soulcasters? Which is more comforting to you in your hour of need, your offline or online friends? Are you willing to offer your friendship to an anonymous online stranger in need?
FaithfulDisciple posted on Sep 26, 2006
| views: 673
Comments
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silverwhisper said on Sep 26, 2006....
i find that i draw a great deal of strength from my online friends. it's a strange thing though, no question. i generally do not however offer friendship to all & sundry: i need to know more about a person generally before going that far.
but i can always offer a sympathetic ear.
perhaps i should have been a bartender...
ed
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FaithfulDisciple said on Sep 26, 2006....
Well Ed, a Soulcast bar wouldn't be such a bad idea. With a couple of right drinks, people can loosen up and start tattling tales of their hurts and disappointments.
I for one have witnessed the power of great online friendship being forged and strengthened between you, HBC and the rest. Frankly, I was initially suprised but elated that sincere friendships can also be found here at Soulcast. :D
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Alyss said on Sep 26, 2006....
I rely on certain of my online friends a great deal.
The comments I've had here at Soulcast have been, in the main, supportive and comforting. We all need someone to rely on...
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MikoFabulous said on Sep 26, 2006....
First of all, I really appreciate the succinct way you've captured the essence of so much of the meaningful writing I've encountered and that I am trying to share on SoulCast.
Writing is an amazing outlet for me, but it's also a career choice I'm trying to make. My writing is intensely personal and I would never be able to share it with friends and family, so it's wonderful to have an open, observant and responsive audience here.
I think you're right. SoulCast is a unique place on the internet where people come to SHARE and CARE. It's an atmosphere that's fostered by the people who operate within the community. You come in as a screen name but you stay as a SoulCaster.
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secretlife said on Sep 26, 2006....
FD: Faith Hope and Love.....my favorite things.
I'm open to friendship wherever and whenever it presents itself. I'm as surprised as the next person to have found new friends here at SoulCast. But what a lovely bunch of people in this community! Seek and you shall find, right?
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hunter_boyce_chandler said on Sep 26, 2006....
A family is in the crown holding business.
When you love someone you hold a crown high over their head and help them grow into it. You tell them they are better than they are. You encourage them. You build up their confidence. You share their thoughts and revel in their joys. With nurture and love one day they finally reach the height to wear that crown.
This is not just a community it is a family and my only hope is to be half the man that crown over my head represents.
HBC
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Mamie said on Sep 26, 2006....
hey, this post is HUGE and represents all that I too feel here at SC...BTW my offline friends are somewhat feeling left out when I talk about my online friends and the things I have learned or muddled through with you all, how cool is that? Hunter, the crown story is just outright beautiful and I'm nominating you for an incremental inch for that! Ed, you are right, now let us all just belly up to the bar!!
Thanks so much FD, I was wondering where you were!
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dearie54 said on Sep 26, 2006....
My online friends are very important to me. Sometimes I wonder if it keeps me from dealing with real issues in my in-person life. But how empty my life would be if I left!
There's no question that they are real friends, whether we have met face-to-face or not. I've celebrated with them, and I have cried with them. Not all of the experiences ended happily, but I have learned from each and every one of them.
And if I can offer a kind word or support to a stranger, well, it enriches my life all the more.
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RollingC said on Sep 27, 2006....
I'm open to friendship always as I think the real treasure in life are your friends... everything else is expendable but not love and friendship.
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missb said on Sep 27, 2006....
Great post, FD :)
I absolutely agree with you. Soulcast is different. It's really amazing to have this kind of online 'family' where you can share and care like what MikoFabulous said, to total strangers.
Ahh, I never regretted that day when I clicked Soulcast's ad in friendster :)
Cheers!
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totally_cd said on Sep 27, 2006....
at present soulcast is my lifeline. it keeps me sane.
i can give honest comments to posts of troubled soulcasters. i try to do my best in giving real solutions to real problems.
and there are instances where the issues posted are similar to what is happening to me. the comments such as this is like a big group hug.
i found a new breed of friends!
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sunsethue said on Sep 27, 2006....
hey FD... i don't really blog but soulcast showed me people who are concerned with their soul's welfare as well as their neighbors'... and that is something different... that is why i am here...
... I'm at your service, people! huggles!
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FaithfulDisciple said on Sep 27, 2006....
In real life, people tend to be quite reserved and a bit choosy of their friends. This is quite the opposite in Soulcast. While so many of us are anonymous by face and name, I feel that I know intimately more of you than I know my real offline friends.
Offline friends tend to filter what they want to share with others for many reasons understandable. I feel Soulcast has afforded us the opportunity to share the real us, no mask, no fear of rejections, just baring, caring and sharing.
I also was amazed at the natural way Soulcasters open up to discuss their problems with no reservations whatsoever, if only to let it all come out and take a deep breath with a heavy sigh of relief.
What struck me the most, was the innate kindness and willingness of one another to help other troubled friends in their distressful times in the form of well meaning advices and whole hearted support.
In real life, you wouldn't have the time opportunity to tune into different problems and take stock on how best to deal with them due to limited time and space frame.
Here at Soulcast, after reading through and assessing your well thought out advices, I can really learn a lot on how to best approach a problem situation with the assured confidence knowing that you'll be here to guide me if I make the wrong decisions.
HBC is definitely right, Soulcast is our entended online family worthy of the highest crowning glory of love and admiration.
And to you my new found friends (Silverwhisper, Alyss, MikoFabulous, Mamie, Secretlife, Sunsethue, Dearie54, Missb, RollingC, Totally CD and everyone else here at Soulcast, I hold my drink up high and toast to our friendship and to the strengthening of our online family ties.
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silverwhisper said on Sep 27, 2006....
hear hear, FD!
[clinks glass]
ed
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FaithfulDisciple said on Sep 27, 2006....
Hey drinks for everyone, this round is on me.
[clinks glass and drinks] :O
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missb said on Sep 27, 2006....
[missb's sneaking in]
Cool....free drinks :D
Cheers! [gulps]
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Frlncwrtr said on Sep 28, 2006....
FD:
Great post!
I find more comfort when interacting with fellow soulcasters than I do with real life friends. The people here are great storytellers and advisers. When they have a problem that I have had some experience with, I enjoy advising them too .
So, to answer your question, yes I am willing to offer my friendship to an anonymous online stranger in need. Many can be better friends than real life friends.
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Mamie said on Sep 28, 2006....
cheers to all! You guys are the best!! ( i drove over with missb but we came in separately to fake you guys out!! :) Yea, B!!
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totally_cd said on Sep 29, 2006....
CHEERS!
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WebbyWeds said on Oct 01, 2006....
Faithful, I couldn't agree with you more. Sometimes in
life's struggles we just need a venue in which to vent and
bounce ideas around. I find blogging to be very
theraputic.
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doyoulikeme said on Oct 03, 2006....
This is so true its hard to find a place or even a blog where ppl give positive feedback. I'm new here and I like it becasue every one seems so supportive at "times" and very open.
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mobil said on Oct 04, 2006....
Bravo FD, we get by with a little help wherever we can get it. Here,
online we meet in the darkness so to speak. Not allot of baggage,
just that that we bring to this place.
I came here to write, in doing that I found some special people.
I don't need to look upon them to feel the goodness inside them. I
don't judge them by what they wear or how they look. This is a simple
place and I like simple things.
Who'd a thought in this strange place, we'd find hearts beating, caring
and sharing.
I look everywhere for inspiration in life FD. Christ is my guide, my
Savior, my role model. You Sir, are a good and kind soul, it's a privilege
to find you here. Thank you for being another of those inspirations.
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FaithfulDisciple said on Oct 05, 2006....
Many thanks Mobil for your kind words. Online friends are less judgmental and opinionated than offline friends since not being able to be influenced by physical attributes makes the interaction more objective and devoid of any personal motives.
I too share your philosophy that Christ is the ultimate guide to a meaningful life and online friends who tune into each other's troubles and offer comfort and friendship to others is the greatest gift we can offer one another without expecting anything in return.
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FaithfulDisciple said on Oct 05, 2006....
Webbyweds, Doyoulikeme: The anonymity factor in Soulcast makes it easy for us to speak out our troubles and rants freely without the risk of being judged or rejected.
The fact that there are really good people around willing to listen and help without any conditions all the more makes it therapeutic and good for our soul. Thanks for commenting.
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Alyss said on Oct 05, 2006....
Coming back to this a little later than I'd have liked but thank you FD. < raises glass >
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