We'll the long road trip is over and I'm delighted to be back to my office, however, much weary that I am.
The question I last posed was about the use of technology in our lives, and how it some times get's in the way of face-to-face relationships. During my time away, I learned a couple of things.
First of all, Technology can be share, face-to-face. While Ed was driving, I read posts to him from Facebook and shared news and funny stories. We sometimes listened to an audio book, and sometimes just music.
Second, Face time is important, but technology can add to personal relationships. We drove to florida to a veteran's reunion. We hadn't seen everyone for two years, and it was wonderful to spend time with them. It was great to relive old memories, catch up with old friends, and make new ones. As the couple driving the farthest, however, people wanted to know when we arrived safely (as did my family). So, I posted periodically on Facebook and now all those veteran friends and their spouses and I are connected in a new way. It was fun to read their encouragement as I posted our stops along the way. Now, I also have real faces to put to those posts.
I know that ministry can be done or at least begun with technology, but it's hard to beat a hug, a pat on the shoulder, or hands-on prayer. I believe that face time and facebook, as well as Twitter and other such social media technologies can work hand in hand to the benefit of everyone in a relationship, especially the church. An ultimately, if it benefits us in the name of Jesus and the Gospel, then we're heading in the right direction.
Yours [on-line] in Christ,
Pastor Deb
