When We Last Spoke

Conversations these days are often truncated by the media we use to communicate. Phone conversations often become brief text messages utilizing abbreviations and symbols. General vocabulary in use by newspapers and magazines has continuously been “dumbed down” in this past decade to accommodate the lack of vocabulary understood by the general population of readers. In other words, your grandmother likely could understand more of the words in the encyclopedia than you could. Large percentages of adults now rarely open books, including the bible.
Conversations likewise are stymied by the over utilization of observed media. In other words, we spend our time listening to programmed material, to the neglect of human to human conversation. It is harder than ever for husbands and wives to communicate, not just because he’s from Mars and she’s from Venus.
Consider the needs we might meet by a reinvestment in human-to-human conversation. Whether by phone or in person, to take advantage of the opportunity to hear one another directly would be a positive step. Newer forms of media connections, with video, may enhance even long distance communication, allowing for some “face to face” time, even with the limits of distance. That fact continues to challenge our generation to find a balance between communication with electronic “filters” and communication that is authentically “present” and allows human contact and engagement of personalities. It is becoming challenging for many people to even have conversations when they have lost the “fine art” of verbal communication. Written communication, via letters and personal notes, is likewise becoming compromised by a preponderance of limited expression.
Facebook, at its best allows individuals to “find” others that they once knew. But overall it is a group conversation of still physically isolated persons. At its worst, it becomes a kind of voyeuristic observation of persons without clear motives or personal investments of time, energy, or relationship. It also can be a dangerous place for children and adolescents with naivety in regard to the threats and dangers of some personalities that might be encountered. The internets new realities of our “observing” being “observed” by technical tracking programs with salespersons seeking markets brings yet another level of contact that aims to exploit rather than relate.
Do you really want to be instant messaging your friend about your interest in buying a car and then to be bombarded automatically by sales information about new vehicles, just because it was a part of your conversation? Do you want to receive an email from the last business where you purchased shoes every month for the next three years? Do your shoes wear out that fast? Do you want to spend your time anonymously relating to a glowing screen, or would you like the opportunity to engage in a person-to-person time of sharing with an individual or group of persons that allows for interactive learning and multiple expressions?
People are hungry for human contact. Isolation has become the norm for too many. Consider the place of the church in building community. It allows us to come together to share in ways that encourage and bless and build up one another in faith and knowledge of God. Such aims are worthy of our best pattern of presenting ourselves in person to be a part of this community of faith. Invest yourself in sharing your thoughts and understanding with others. Give of yourself in the power of your personality to be engaging and welcoming and listening and learning.