Face-to-Face (2 John 1:12-13)

Today's scripture: 2 John 1:12-13

We live in a world that allows for relatively intimate relationships without ever meeting face-to-face. Through social networks, pen pal sites, online dating, and more, you can meet someone and establish a real friendship, never having met in person.

I guess there are “pros” to this. Shut-ins or disabled people have an opportunity to interact with others. Others learn of other cultures through correspondence with people from foreign lands.

But there are also many “cons.” The main one, for me, is online relationships are, at best, two dimensional. Yes, you can share secrets. You can laugh with each other. And with applications like Skype, you can even see one another.

You can’t, however, touch. I’m a “toucher.” I love to squeeze a hand or rub a shoulder. And there’s nothing quite so wonderful as a big, ol’ bear hug. And even though you might be able to see someone online, actually looking deeply into someone’s eyes is very different.

I think that’s why both John and Paul often wrote in their letters how they longed to see—in person—their letters’ recipients.

If cyberspace is your only way to maintain a relationship, then by all means, use whatever resources you can. But nothing really takes the place of being able to sit side-by-side, heart-to-heart. As often as you can.