The Drone Dilemma

It wasn't too long after Christmas when my brother-in-law, Kent, invited me to join a Facebook group known as "Mystery drone swarm chasers." It started as a reaction to numerous reports of drones flying in formation after dark, mostly over northeastern Colorado and southwestern Nebraska. I had heard some accounts about the mysterious drones, but I was about to hear a lot more.

A drone is a fairly small, unmanned aircraft, like this one, used by hobbyists, commercial or government entities, or the military, to take aerial photos, map the terrain, deliver packages, or even spy on the people below them.

I didn't accept the invitation to join the group, but, apparently, a simple invitation was enough for me to receive all of their posts. At first, the posts came at a fast and furious pace, reporting sightings of large drones, several feet in diameter, flying after dark in groups of four to six, or even as many as a dozen. The obvious problem was that no one knew who the drones belonged to, or what they were doing.

Reported Drone Sightings

As the days went by, the drones seemed to be migrating from west to east, clear across the southern half of Nebraska. And, as the reports continued, the levity--and in-fighting-- commenced. People began posting blurry videos of possible sightings, as well as obviously fake pictures of drone sightings. Some earnest naysayers noted that various aircraft, the orbiting space station, and even Venus could be mistaken for drones. Others accused the serious posters of paranoia, while still others suggested that well-meaning viewers were mistaking hobbyists' small drones for bigger, commercial drones. Some people researched various kinds of drones, used for a myriad of legitimate purposes, and reported their findings to the group. Commenters argued the pros and cons of illegally shooting down a drone so it could be investigated up close. Eventually, it was reported that several law enforcement agencies were trying to figure out who was launching the mystifying drones, and for what purpose. And, of course, diverse conspiracy theories were suggested and discarded.

Then, the name-calling escalated, along with the not-so-nice comments and wisecracks.

In this closed group of 15,000 people, the serious drone trackers were pitted against those who thought it was all a joke.

As of this writing, no one officially knows who has been launching the drones, or why. Since no company has admitted to using the drones, the most reasonable explanation seems to be that they are being used by the military, or another government agency, to practice clandestine operations which, of necessity, must remain a secret.

Unfortunately, this unpoliced Facebook group, like so many others, seems to bring out the worst in some people. I can understand the frustration of those who started the group, simply wanting to track the unidentified drones and establish their purpose. I don't fault those who made some occasional, truly funny, jokes that didn't target anyone maliciously. I can't help but wonder, though, just what satisfaction is gained by those nasty individuals whose pointed comments were rude, mean, and filled with foul language.

As I observed the disintegration of the drone group, the situation led me to consider this analogy:

In our world today, we have many Christians who insist that our God is a real, living, loving being, who is active in our everyday lives. We can't help but attest to his goodness, and give personal examples of his work here on Earth. Like the drone observers who know what they saw, Christians are excited to speak from experience. Unlike the drone group, though, Christianity is an open group, accessible to anyone who believes in the God of John 3:16--

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For some reason, a number of people, who refuse to accept the legitimacy of our Christian faith, are determined to make jokes about Christians. Some carry it even further, maliciously accusing Christians of ignorance, hypocrisy, or even paranoia. It seems like they are unable to just let Christians be happy in their faith; instead, they take every opportunity to make fun of Christians, making rude and downright mean comments, peppered liberally with profanity because they know it will be offensive to their targeted audience.

This is nothing new. It's been happening for two thousand years. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:11, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me."

As the drone sightings diminish, the drone group seems to be fading in popularity. As quickly as it sprung into being, the site's posts are becoming fewer each day. Soon it will be just another bygone fad, replaced by a newer quest for truth--or notoriety. People are fickle, chasing first one thing, then another, in their search to find what they are missing.

If you find yourself taking pleasure in put downs, if you are so unhappy with your life that you want everyone around you to be just as cynical as you are, if you don't know what is missing in your life, there is still time to Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7

What do you have to lose?