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Good Morning In a drive for greater privacy, Meta, owners of the instant messaging service WhatsApp, are to allow individuals to leave group chats silently. The news, released this week, has resulted in a range of responses from hilarious to more thought-provoking. I mean, what’s going on here and does it matter? For a start, if it really is down to a question of personal choice & privacy, whichever messaging service you use, shouldn’t the most important thing be to give users the choice as to whether or not they join a group in the first place? One radio phone-in caller said: “I didn’t even know I was in the group – and then I had to find a way out.” One of Jesus’ best-known parables describes a whole lot of invitations being sent out. Important though the invitations are, one by one, those invited make woeful excuses as to why they can’t accept. The point of the parable is not just about the invitations to a heavenly banquet but more about the feeble excuses for not attending. But the point is, they had a choice. Be that as it may, whether at a physical or online social gathering, many of us know that being invited and attending is one thing; but how to manage your exit is another thing altogether. Currently on WhatsApp, everyone witnesses someone leaving a group and it can be awkward and embarrassing, even without flouncing out in a fit of pique. But soon you will be able to silently exit stage right, with dignity, avoiding gossip or speculation - even if you didn’t accept an invitation to be there in the first place. One of my favourite Psalms, 121, is an actual hymn, used by ancient pilgrims as they went along together. The journey was significant, and they petitioned for a safe arrival and an even more blessed departure. The prayer here is that “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth and for evermore”. Had the writer been able to glimpse the future, and our digital generation, they would have seen how much their words have assumed a whole new resonance and meaning. It’s great to share our lives with others but withdrawing for some peace and quiet is increasingly attractive. Our lives are surely cluttered enough. There’s too much background noise as it is. Never has the opportunity for a quiet and dignified exit been more welcome.