Recently, I posted some photos to my Facebook account, with the spirit and attitude of humor. They depicted a young Hispanic female meteorologist in several different poses and outfits. Later photos then depicted a male meteorologist from the Middle East in a keffiyeh and the last photo of a Middle Eastern female meteorologist in a burqa. To me, I didn’t find the Hispanic female or her attire particularly attractive and thus, I didn’t think anything about posting the photos. I found the contrast humorous and wanted to share my humor with other “friends” on Facebook.

The next morning, I received one private message from a friend of mine who I hold dear to me, expressing personal concern for both his own purity and others who might struggle with the photos I posted and suggested that he might “have to remove [me] as a fb friend”.

At first, I was a little taken aback, thinking, “Geez, bro, a little sensitive, arent’ we?” And, I felt like the suggestion of removal from his social network was more like a threat (harmless since we’re talking about a social network, and hopefully, NOT our friendship!).

Then, I thought, “Well, maybe I should block him from this particular photo album. but as I began to block him, I began to think of other brothers (in the faith) of mine who I thought might have to be blocked as well. And then, I couldn’t remember all of them or wasn’t sure of all of the struggles of all of the brothers I knew! So, suddenly, I’m on this slippery slope of trying to protect everyone from being offended by what I considered to be innocent humor (and I’m not getting ANY traction!).

Then, I thought, “Maybe, instead of trying to block and protect, I should just edit the album.” Again, as I looked at the photos, I couldn’t find any of the Hispanic female that were even remotely decent to display (and if anyone is offended by the fully dressed Middle Eastern male, I just don’t know what to do about that!) to show the contrast.

Finally, I ended up editing the album, removing all of the photos of the Hispanic female and renaming the album (you can’t really use the word “Mexico” without a Hispanic meteorologist!). As I drove to work (and thought about this post I’m writing), I realized that there are those of us who struggle with lust and temptation and those who don’t. And, I wonder how we treat each other.

I struggled this morning with one attitude of “If you’re so sensitive to these photos, then maybe you should consider not having a Facebook account!” But then, that pissy attitude toward the grieved* brothers only drives them into a dark Luddite existence away from television, movies and all outside photographic media, printed or otherwise.

Then, I wondered, “Why should MY postings take precedence/priority/importance over his, my grieved brother? Does the fact that my lack of temptation toward lust make me or my postings somehow superior over his thoughts, attitudes and actions? OR, do I owe it to not only this brother but the others who I don’t even know, who might now be privately struggling and grieving as well, to be the ‘bigger brother’ and help to guard them by NOT subjecting them to things which might possibly harm them? Are we as brothers (and sisters) in Christ SUPPOSED to be watching out for each other?”

So, as I stated previously, I edited the album. And wrote this Note. And now, I have an email of apology to write to my brother, which he won’t see until after work tonight.

God, how I hate the world in which we live, where EVERYTHING is broken (Genesis 3:6), but I am SO GRATEFUL/THANKFUL that there is One who saves us!

*Note: The word “grieved” is being taken from the Scriptural passage of Romans 14:1-23. The first 12 verses discuss a weakness in FAITH and the latter 11 verses described the brother as “grieved”, not weak.