Friendship? Really?

Today I had a wonderful conversation with a friend from back home. We haven't had a real conversation in over 2 years. But we've had plenty of "conversations" on Facebook. He's commented on my photos. I've commented on his. I've "liked" his status updates. He's liked mine. I've commented on his wall posts. I was fooled into believing that we were in touch. That I know everything that's going on in the life of my friend in spite of being over 8000 miles away. Today we had a real conversation. I found out how his life had changed in the past 2 years. I found out he had begun a new relationship and was praying about its future. I found out he'd been in a war zone and experienced rocket attacks. I found out that there were things I could lift up in prayer. Funny, in these past 2 years and our many exchanges on Facebook, I have never known these things about him. I wonder what else I'm missing out on in my friends' lives.

I know Facebook has some positive qualities. Which is why I stay on every time I have this urge to click on "Delete Account". I get to see photos of my friends, their travels, their adventures, their weddings, their families... But I wonder what else is going on. Things they would tell 4 people over a phone call but wish the other 681 on their Friends' list would not know about. Then I look at my own Friends' List. The many people that make it the long list it is and the number of "Friends" I have not said as much as "Hello" to in the past year. How shallow is my definition of friendship?