Face-to-Face

Dec 6, 2012 by Jim and Jerolyn Bogear

The other day as I was sitting at a stoplight, a young mom with a stroller and an older woman walked through the crosswalk. The younger woman was chatting away animatedly and suddenly threw her hand up in the air illustrating her point with abandon while smiling from ear to ear. I have no idea what story she was telling, but I could easily see the theme of her tale – pure joy.

I love the physical animation of a face-to-face conversation. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve used my hands to talk. There is just something added to a story when your entire body gets involved in the telling. You can see more emotion and action. It can almost be like watching a play presented for one. Every nuance comes alive.

A face-to-face conversation builds relationships as no other way can. You can see what the other person is feeling through their body language. You see their facial expression and hand gestures. You can look into their eyes. You experience full communication.

Now understand, I love technology. Obviously, you are reading my blog on the Internet that I typed on my laptop. It’s taken from notes I made on my smart phone. And right now, technology is the main access we have with our children and other family members who all live far away. I’m thankful for the ability to keep in touch with them regularly through technology.

But there is just nothing like that face-to-face moment we are blessed to experience. We need each other. The Creator did not place us here on this big rotating ball to do life alone. As humans, we crave touch, conversation, and community. There is no better way to get to know another human being than sitting down and having an honest, heartfelt conversation.

Patricia Ireland said, “Some of us may just, in one-on-one conversations with our family, with our friends, over the back fence with our neighbors, talk about the reality of our lives and realize that we’re not alone….”

• When was the last time you had a meaningful face-to-face conversation?
• When was the last time you had a heartfelt conversation with your spouse? How about with your children or a friend?
• How about taking one day and making an effort to only communicate face-to-face.

Is it time to give someone a call and set up a coffee date?

~Jerolyn