There is an old airline commercial that is lodged in my memory. It depicts the owner of a company announcing to his employees, “An old friend just fired us today. He says he doesn’t know us anymore.” Then he hands out envelopes containing airline tickets and says, “We are going to pay a personal visit to every one of our clients,” sticking the last envelope in his back pocket. Someone asks, “Where are you going, Ben?” and he replies, “To visit that old friend.” In this world of texts, tweets, Face Book posts and emails, there is nothing that has the impact of connecting with someone through personal contact.
The most effective (and rewarding) personal contact is face to face conversation. For years I taught pest control technicians how important they are to the success of their company. In their personal contact with the customer they are the “face” of the company. The next most important contact is phone conversation. I taught administrative assistants how important they are because they are the “voice” of the company.
When cell phones first became readily available everyone walked around with their phone to their ear. Even if it took the place of some face to face meetings at least we were still talking to each other. Now people just stare at the screen of their smart phone or IPad with their fingers manipulating apps or typing messages while missing the opportunity for personal contact with the people around them – often their family.
Today most companies are using automated answering systems and communicate with customers by email or through their website app. It cuts down on their payroll costs, but human contact and connection are being sacrificed in the process. I have found myself yelling at a “virtual assistant” when my question didn’t fit their programmed FAQs. Now I just press zero when options are given and if I don’t get a person on the line I hang up. What saddens me is that younger generations have learned to embrace these innovations. I fear some of them may never take the opportunity to fully develop the personal communication skills that are so important in forming deep, lasting relationships. As a result, they may not fully experience the great satisfaction those relationships offer.
Now that I have exposed myself as the old fogy that I am, let me get to the point. When we accept Jesus Christ as our savior we become His representatives/ambassadors. We are His face and His voice to a lost world. God could make His message known anyway He wants, but He chooses to use us to share with others our personal relationship with Him so that they may find that joy for themselves. It is so important for us to have a personal, loving relationship with God, but it is just as important for us to develop personal, loving relationships with others. Technology is amazing but we can’t let it interfere with or replace what is truly important in life.
The kind of love that only comes from God that He commands us to share with others can’t be spread by clicking hearts on Face Book.