Digi-Visiting #digidisciple (@pamjweb)

I’ve recently spent some time in hospital. One of the obvious downsides is the sense of isolation, being away from family and friends and all that is familiar.

Hands: Useful for #digi-visiting! (http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1319307)

And into that steps social media and a smart phone. How things have changed since the last time I had an operation 18 years ago!  Through the wonders of having a phone by your side, you can update friends and family, and they can respond.  Rather than the over-stretched nurses having to ring a designated family member, and them having to ring everyone else, a simple status update from your bed lets everyone know at once.  For some of my friends, this gave them great relief.

But it also works the other way.  People, most of whom could not have got to the hospital to visit, were able to send me messages.  Messages that gave me comfort, and made me laugh!  I didn’t feel disconnected, but rather cheered and held in prayer.

So this opens up for us a whole new ministry – digi-visiting.  We can do it anytime, not just at visiting time – it especially helps in those long, uncomfortable nights in hospital!; from any distance, not just those with access to the hospital; more can “visit” than the “only 2 round a bed”.

It not a total solution for face to face visiting, but it does take the possibility wider.  It also opens up possibilities for other “visiting”, not just in hospital, but any situation where someone needs support, comfort and cheering.

Of course there are some obvious downsides: not everyone has access to a smart-phone; in my case the battery kept running out!; access through bedside tv/phone/computer units is expensive – but if someone has it for the tv, internet was included.  But as always, where it can work, it’s fantastic.

So, some questions for us as digi-disciples, digi-pastoral visitors, digi-friends:

• How can we use social media to support those who are isolated in any way?
• Who could you be offering support to?
• Can you take responsibility for supporting someone that way?