I was flipping through my worn copy of Seven Storey Mountain yesterday, and came across a passage I highlighted back when I first read it. Thomas Merton was talking about his efforts to get his writing published, and he said:
The more I failed, the more I was convinced that it was important for me to have my work printed in magazines like the Southern Review or Partisan Review or the New Yorker. My chief concern was now to see myself in print. It was as if I could not quite be satisfied that I was real until I could feed my ambition with these trivial glories, and my ancient selfishness was now matured and concentrated in this desire to see myself externalized in a public and printed and official self which I could admire at my ease. This was what I really believed in: reputation, success. I wanted to live in the eyes and the mouths and the minds of men.
I was not so crude that I wanted to be known and admired by the whole world: there was a certain naive satisfaction in the idea of being only appreciated by a particular minority, which gave a special fascination to this urge within me. But when my mind was absorbed in all that, how could I lead a supernatural life, the life to which I was called? How could I love God, when everything I did was done not for Him but for myself, and not trusting in His aid, but relying on my own wisdom and talents? [emphasis mine]
I had originally noted the passage to share with writer friends. But when I came across it again yesterday, it struck me that, thanks to modern technology, this temptation applies to almost everyone these days.
"Likes" on Facebook. Retweets on Twitter. Comments and hits on blogs. All of these new media elements help us connect and share our interests with one another. But they also tempt us, as Merton writes, to "live in the eyes and the mouths and the minds of men."
Now, any time you create something -- a status update, an essay, a picture, a poem -- as soon as you put it out there on the internet, the numbers start rolling in: 16 likes; two retweets; a handful of hits. Humans have always been tempted to value themselves according to other people's opinions, and now we can quantify our self-worth. That picture only got two likes; I must be a terrible photographer. But twenty people retweeted my Twitter haiku about apple sauce; I must be a genius!
Merton talked about his desire to see himself "externalized in a public and printed and official self." In his time, the ways to create this kind of "externalized self" were limited. If you were a writer you could get something published, or if you were an actor maybe you could have a role in a movie, but there weren't a lot of other ways to form a separate, public persona and value it according to the response it received. Now, anyone with an internet connection has this option.
There are a lot of great things about social media; I think that, overall, Facebook, Twitter, and other similar technology add value to our lives in the way they keep us connected with one another. But we need to be careful that our use of this kind of media doesn't lead us to fall into the same temptation Merton did over half a century ago, to aspire to live in the eyes and minds of men.
(And now, just watch me sit around and fixate on the number of times this post is shared.)
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Great observation. Lots of interesting things to chew on. Curiously, Merton was not fond of his, perhaps, most well known work (SSM).
CS Lewis wrote an interesting essay which pointedly addresses this question: who do we write for? Ourselves, or the Divine. It is to be expected that we will seek affirmation of our writing and you are very correct that “tracking” and easy access allow for both a proliferation of writing (some good, some not) and the ego-inflating (or deflating) affects of tracking others’ interest. But, to the point, the best writing comes when our intent shifts from self-affirmation to an intense desire to be a voice for God. The bar gets set at a whole new level then.
Great article and thought provoking.
www.ryanbarnett.com
“Earthly fame is nothing but a breath of wind,
Which first blows one way and then another.
And brings a fresh name from each fresh direction.”
The Divine Comedy - Purg XI 100 - 103
https://drummergeorge.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/social-media-addiction/
Happy we’re all talking about it now. And pensive about the appreciation I have for the hits on my blog. Its a thin line is’nt it. I think the hiatus during lent helped me curb this.
I’m 31 year old mother of two. When I had my first child, who is now 4, I signed up for Facebook. I got into it for a while- posting pictures, wishing happy birthday, updating my status occasionally etc…I was showing off essentially, to whoever cared to view.
Then I stopped. I found I had no time to keep up.
But the real reason I stopped is that I started to feel depressed at some comments, lack of comments etc…Like Jeniffer said, my mood depended on how much recognition I got for my personal life and family…
It began to trouble my soul. When I stopped updating, other stopped communicating to me, naturally.
Then I’d get random invites from people to be my friend, I’d ignore them cause I wanted to be selective who saw my profile.
Then after being a bit hostile to Facebook for a number of years, and occasionally getting back into it then stopping, the starting then stopping etc…. I decided to close my account ( temporarily, cause if you have ever tried to close your count, Facebook use guilt, distractions, diversions to pursued you to not close the account). I figured if you wanna connect to me, send me an email, call me etc…
Anyway, since closing the account, I found myself stronger emotionally and spiritually and frankly not caring what people think. Not worrying if people are sticky-beeking on my neglected Facebook profile and thinking I’m a loser, or not up to the mark on the social networking thing, or how many wished me happy birthday that year.
Frankly I couldn’t care less, and yet I find myself caring more genuinely about the people I love, and not of the superficial caring that maintains the social coolness. True genuine love.
And yes, I feel a sense of calm, humility authenticity I’ve missed for years.
Facebook is for some people, and if it is then good luck to you. But…
Facebook isn’t for me on a personal level. Maybe if I had a business and wanted to promote it….but It’s been a hardened cog in my spiritual wheel.
God Bless, and connect with each other as Christ taught us.
In pondering the thoughts expressed in each and every one of the related comments I sense some common elements, humility and how it is sincerely developed, relationship - family and non family and how it is maintained, the exercise of ,judgement or lack, and the desire to share in the assisting one another in the process of becoming better people. We all need guidance and we all need to assist in guiding others as that is what Jesus said we should do “go teach all nations all that I have commanded” key words -go - teach - all - commanded. Perhaps what people should consider as decisions are made as to how to go about this process is that Jesus should be our guide and through the “Holy Spirit you will greater works than I” and Jesus had said I do what the Father tells me to do. So perhaps what will facilitate all of us who care will be a close association with the Trinity and a deep sense of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit Who will put words in our mouthes and put fire in our hearts and then we get in step with the Trinity and thus more successful in any endeavor implemented on behalf of Kingdom building. I am quite new to this medium and this is about the 3rd or 4th item that I have written. And having heard Jennifer on life on the rock i was moved to access her web and thus have had the opportunity to know what many of you express as beliefs. I have learned from each of you and my sense of hope is increased because to struggle with ego and so on reflects what is said in Ephesians; “Try and discern the will of the Lord” and i personally have not read anywhere in scripture that we would have certainty as to the will of the Lord accept as it is expressed in His 10 commandments, corporal and spiritual works of mercy, the beatitudes, and Mt 28. That is His stated will as to king-dumb building we need Him. Peace to all. And i pray that anything written by me makes some sense. If not forgive and set me straight.
This reminds me of the work of another prophetic writer: C.S. Lewis, who pointed out that a great way of indulging in the sin of pride is by indulging in thoughts of humility. If we’re busy patting ourselves on the backs for being humble, are we really being humble? I sometimes think that a non-stop focus on how “good” we’re being leads to more sins than it eradicates. For instance, it’s hard to measure our own “goodness” without comparing it to that of others. Remember the Pharisee who thanks God that he is not like other sinful men?
Further, there is a dichotomy here that needs to be expressed: leaving comments on Facebook, posting pictures of your life, and tweeting about where you’re eating dinner is not the same as contemplating a theme or an event in your life and writing a blog post about it. Not all social media is created equal.
We also need to recognize that there is a difference between needing affirmations from other humans and simple sharing. It is a critical difference and a distinction than can really only be made by God and the individual in question.
In “Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art,” Madeleine L’Engle writes: “We all tend to make zealous judgments, and thereby close ourselves off from revelation. If we feel that we already know something in its totality, then we fail to keep our ears and eyes open to that which may expand or even change that which we so zealously think we know.”
This may be one instance in which the intent takes a backseat to the action. In my own experience, the intent has changed (many times), but it wouldn’t have if I had given up the action.
In the 3rd sentence from the bottom i added a letter to “our” rendering it pour. Sorry. I thought i had checked for mistypings but did not see that one.
Jennifer, You bring to the conscious a personal philosophical question. Why would anyone want to hear/read,view, anything that the “I” has to say, write etc. What is so important that it must be rendered to the “source”? There may be an answer, however, the question needs to be asked. Asking can purify the motive to a limited but essential degree. Humility should always be maintained as it is an essential element of sanity and salvation. Of note in this regard. Consider how many pages/words/paragraphs are contained in the 4 Gospels. Then consider how many books have been written about them. Why? Without doubt, and throughout history, certain writers have heightened understanding about the life and modeling of Jesus as He went about instilling the seed of salvation through those 3 years of public scrutiny learning absorbing etc. But it begs the question why so many books have been written about the life of Jesus and His teachings of His Fathers wishes for us. Why not read the Gospels and simply ask Jesus to explain them to us so that we can apply His teachings to pour daily lives. Is this not what was amplified on the road to Emmaus? Enough for tonight, however, you struck a nerve that needed to be struck. Peace and with deference under Christ.
What is a “social media”? Is it a function of the number of contacts/ minute,or just electronic contacts;or on the immediacy, when our fingers outrun our brains, or on half-life of seconds of the staying power of what has been expressed?
Is Kindle a social media, whereas a hardcover book is solitary?
Perhaps it is just another term for babble.
Missy’s remark about the loss of “real” relationships while pursuing the online ones and all that she says about that rings true and a right concern. That said, every human endeavor (i.e. music artist, writer, commenator,or ANY other) has the hazard of pride when one is succesful howeve that is defined. Avoiding blogging (or performing or writing or WORKING) because you might become proud of your success is unlikely to be the answer. By avoiding the near occasion of pride don’t you then run the risk of sloth? It pains me when people of good will tie themselves up in knots about these things - focus on contributing to the Body of Christ, focus on the sacrifice of Christ and the pure gift of life and breath and move on.
I can relate to Patrice’s comment. In the 90s I worked to promote a catholic artist. At what point does humility morph into pride? While scheduling interviews for virtually every catholic magazine (including this one), several secular news shows, and radio interviews, and finding myself quoted in the Wall Street Journal, and that coupled with taking huge sums of money to be deposited, I began to not only question the musician’s motives, but had to ask myself what my motives were…was I becoming prideful in my works?
Likewise when I see the Facebook and other social media posts that artist makes, I look at how I am using social media…I realize that I do like to get my ideas out there for people to see, there is a certain pride in it…and then I realize how silly that pride is and laugh at myself in much that same way I laugh at how serious I took my experience in music ministry nearly 20 years ago
The only purpose for some people using social media is to get the word out about the corruption in our govt Our mainstream media is controlled by left bias and the right is silenced by that control They want to control all social media now Communism wants to shut you up This article only instills guilt in people who want others to open their eyes to what’s happening all over and the news that is being suppressed You only see what they want you to
Litany of Humility…a Catholic social media worker’s best friend.
I’m struggling with the same questions as to how to find balance amidst technology—in fact, that’s what my blog is all about! Just had to share this quote: “Without fear we must set sail on the digital sea, facing into the deep with the same passion that has governed the ship of the Church for two thousand years…we want to qualify ourselves by living in the digital world with a believer’s heart, helping to give a soul to the Internet’s incessant flow of communication.”
~Pope Benedict XVI, April 24, 2010
And who says the Lord has not got a sense of humour? I have been storming heaven for some answers on all of the above comments as I find myself exactly in the same boat. It would be just so easy to give up writing but then how would we be able to spread the Good News?
All this technology is very new. Which means, in the recent past, all the time we spend on the internet or using social media is time we once would have spent doing something else, or being with someone else, or giving undivided attention to something else. The time doesn’t come from nowhere; it’s not added on to our lives, it’s taken from someplace, or someone. I think we need to be careful about what we sacrifice when we spend time using these media.
For example, it is easy to brush off members of our family when we are busy writing a blog post. It is easy to connect with and seek affirmation from strangers rather than focus on healing strained relationships in our own lives. It is also easy to craft false personas, even subconsciously. Even when things we write are self-effacing or self-critical, “fans” of our writing are likely to respond by reassuring us how wonderful we are, whereas our real-life families who actually live with us might not be of another opinion. The temptation is to slip more and more away from the real relationships into a world of illusion with facebook “friends” and fellow bloggers who always tell us what we want to hear. Real people, yes, but not part of our “real lives,” and not seeing the “real us” in its complete and unedited form.
Just some things I think about.
Thanks so much for the warning, as I have a couple of essays people really need to read. Say, does writing a comment mean my name is now in print?
Best wishes for a wrenching Good Friday and a joyous Easter!
My chief concern was now to see myself in print.
Like many, many, many, many, many “Catholic” bloggers.
Thank you Jennifer. I still keep my Facebook account to keep up with my adult children and extended family who live far away. It is a great way to share photos. But I agree, it can be a near occasion for sin in so many ways.
I recently came across something in The Imitation of Christ that I thought was very pertinent. What would Saint Thomas à Kempis say about Facebook? http://www.maythewords.com/2012/what-would-saint-thomas-a-kempis-say-about-facebook/
Thank you! What a great reminder of the battle we face every moment. May all be for GOD’S GLORY!
There are many Catholic musicians who have the same dilemma. We write, play, perform, record the music we are inspired to share…and put it “out there”. We hope it is heard, appreciated, inspiring to others…and if we put down money to record it, we hope to sell some, too. For several years I’ve chased down the “how to do it” in this process…doing some blogging and creating a web page…twitter…facebook…and I’ve coming to the conclusion that I don’t have to DO anything with the music God gives me, as long as I offer it at any given moment for the Praise and Worship of Him. I’ve slowed down and am trying to enjoy where I am, and not trying to get where ??? Learning how to just BE.
@WFBC
You mean, getting my “friends” to tend to my crops in Farmville doesn’t count? ;)
The Amish actually without the internet have real community whereby they rebuild each other’s house if it burns down.
If your house burns down, try getting your facebook friends to rebuild it.
It’s a damned wonderful thing that he did go on writing and did get articles published without having to kowtow to the medieval minds of the Trappists of those days. We would have missed the remarkable spiritual growth evidenced in this holy man who grew so remarkably from the backward monk of the 40s to the world loving monk of his last fifteen years. http://mertonocso.wordpress.com
Approbation has always been part of our social makeup as human beings. As everything else in life, moderation is the key here. Being a hermit might be OK for a holy man, but most of us need some feedback from our fellow human beings.
Vívat Jesus,
Horst Stehmer
A year ago, my deacon and his wife warned me of the dangers of being a blogger. I was saddened. I had just enjoyed seeing my posts listed on New Advent and The PulpIt several times. After the second post that hit, I found myself watching the blog lists to see if I made it. Oops! That’s not a good sign when praying for opportunities to be humbled.
So I stopped writing.
Please consider a post that outlines what you can do to avoid these dangers while perhaps at the same time, answer the call to evangelize. How does one discern whether you are just fulfilling your ego, or doing God’s will? I know some of the answers, however, much of this internet territory is new.
Blessings this Holy Week.
Jennifer,
Thank you for the reflection. I try to post only if I feel that I have something to add to the discussion. Yes, seeing a blog “accepted” is something of a pride trip.
TeaPot562
I fell into the same trap when I was contacted by a popular Catholic site asking if they could use one of my comments in a magazine. I said yes, and of course I asked for a copy of the magazine and was sure to mention this possibility to most of my family. I do not know if it was ever used, and I eventually realized that I was too interested in getting praise and having my thoughts ‘validated’ by others. It is a snare baited to lure my worst vice, pride, and sadly, I often walk into it willingly.
Now, if any of you would like to share this comment on social media, please do, but make sure to give me credit.
Conversely, I would like to take an informal poll: How many of you have hesitated to post on Facebook that edifying YouTube video you love of Mozart’s Lacrimosa or share your Pinterest photo of rose petals falling from the Pantheon’s oculus at Pentecost because you were afraid your “friends” would think you were prosthelytizing? Or, heaven forbid, hesitated to post info on a Freedom of Religion Rally? WWJD? WWMD?
This is the reason that I do not every make any attempt to track how much traffic my own blog has. I’ll track links, to see what sort of ideas and commentary I inspire. But I was sure from previous experience that I didn’t want to get too wrapped up in an online community, when my real life is what’s most important.
I have read Seven Storey Mountain several times. Since you made reference to those passages I understand now what Merton was getting at.
Oh the sweet irony. Good reminder.
Thank you Jennifer for finally articulating what I have been thinking for quite some time. I deleted my facebook account once I realized that I was becoming too worried about comments on my posts or how many “likes” I had. I also felt that the “friendships” were not real and this is a modern way of turning a human and emotional relationship into something artificial and wrong. I was also incredibly tired of reading about people bragging about themselves. The whole point was that I cared too much and needed to be in my real world. Not in a fake world. We all need to get off these computers and start living are real lives. Thank you again for writing this. I give you a “like”!
Reason #2 why I deleted my Facebook account this past week.
Jennifer,
Thanks for this post.
I underlined the same passage in my copy of Seven Storey but continuously fall into the same trap as Merton.
I even tried giving up checking my blog stats for Lent and failed miserably after about two weeks.
I guess I just have to keep plugging away at that illusive humility.
Didn’t Merton abandon his newborn son to come to america and become a monk? Never correcting his behavior to become a father to his child, I dont understand why people would read his stuff.
Reason #4 why I stopped blogging!
I agree with both the author and Merton. The desire to be admired is strong for most of us even without the promise of hundreds of followers to stoke that ego. The author’s last comment about social media helping us to be connected to one another is true, but what kind of connection? I feel a momentary satisfaction if someone “likes” something I say on FB (the only one of the social media you mention that I use), but it does not deepen my connection with the person who likes what I said. The overuse of communication in limited space makes our contact more superficial. Late night conversation, a long telephone call, or a written letter could inform, charm, and strengthen a relationship. That is hard to do in 140 characters or a message of five lines.
Yeah. Reminds me of one of my favorite Merton quotes, from The Sign of Jonas:
“Typewriter broken. And now the infinite God has to compete, for possession of my mind, with the image of a beautiful new typewriter with French accents on it.”
I too have often pondered the intend of my thoughts, words(opinions), and art that posted. Do I find myself checking in on “likes”,“comments or “friend’s request”? Surely I am not without some guilt. But, it is at just those times we must recollect our actions concerning what we do and ask to whose glory do we do what we do. Are we mindfulness of the primacy of God or seeking the honor and admiration for gifts given and not wholly our own. Recognizing like Merton that the ability to express our free will is in itself a “gift” and a cross helps us to look inward to and for the Source of what we do, and when, our intent is pure and it is done for the Glory of God and not polishing our own ego(s) or building up our pride of admiration in the “eyes and mouths of men” we may be at rest and give thanks to our God who through his love has blessed us with all that we have been given.
Tom Merton, gifted as he was did not want to write, but was compelled to (by the Holy Spirit) through the the orders of his Abbot(s), and I thank God he was; for without his insights into our natures, human and divine we would all be the poorer in “seeking the face of God”.
Enjoyed the post Jennifer, but having also read Seven Story Mountain it’s important to understand Merton’s context in writing it. His father was an artist, he was a world traveler who took in Duke Ellington and F Scott Fitzgerald and the explicit drug use and implied sex of the Jazz Age. The irony was from the relief of the monastery, by reaching the eyes and minds of men he convinced many after himself to live that cloistered, focused life. Where do you draw the line between approving someone’s idea and simply re-expressing an already existing, eternal truth? If the lines point back to Christ’s teaching and the Church’s mission, let the likes shine through!
As one of your writer readers, I appreciate you sharing this. I needed to read it. (Like:)
The sentence by Merton which you highlighted points to the great albatross around most of our necks, something that is almost impossible to break free from. Therein may lie the greatest challenge to each of us as a person. Seeking God’s approval first and worldly approval a distant second. We all seem to love those ‘atta boys”.
This post was very much on target, Jennifer. Thanks.
My husband and I were listening to the CD Compassion. It was Merton with Dalai Lama. My husband was shocked. He asked what year this was from? I told him circa 1968. Merton was very prophetic. Thanks for the article.
Excellent! For many weaker souls, FB and personal blogs, are very troubling and lead to many unintended consequences. Humility is constantly assaulted. Often it seems it is like sending out those Christmas brag letters that accompanied Christmas cards, EVERY DAY, with continual updates. I was urged by my twenty something son to have FB. I have 90 friends. But I have been truly dismayed by what I see. Yes, there are some good things, but so very much that is troubling. Seems there is a pecking order…some FB friends’ posts receive lots of attention. The comments seem like cocktail party one liners…who can be extremely brief, witty and original ? I often think of Our Blessed Mother and her quiet humility. I think of Saint Joseph whose words are unrecorded in Scripture. What does it do to the spiritual progress of a soul to have more online about themselves, their kids, their life than movie stars and their publicists could ever have hoped for just a few years ago? Are we really strong enough to handle this?
Jennifer, If it makes you feel any better: This post didn’t do much for me… pretty boring… needs work…. I’ll be back tomorrow to read some more…
This is so, so good. And convicting. And you’re right, it can be applied to the various social media outlets. Something to ponder today for sure!
As a writer who is mostly unpublished, it occurs to me that we ought to ask ourselves, as honestly as possible, about our writing: Is this so unique, so well-written, so essential, so different, that it must be out there, must be published, must be seen? Is this the work of a Hugo or Dostoyevsky, or Aquinas, or just another of many mediocre pieces that fill so many pages? And if it isn’t all that unique, the next question is, why do I want to publish this? Is it about making a buck (which can be an okay motive) or is about self-promotion on some level? (which probably isn’t so good a motive.) I think too many of us just assume that we ought to be published and read and seen and heard, without much objective consideration of content or quality.
I do really like this (and you).
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I think the need for acknowledgement and fame is the newest and most addictive sin Satan has pulled from his bag of tricks and FB, Twitter, and all the others can be used by him if they are misused by us.
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