Face to Face

by Debi Baker

"19 ...You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry."

James 1:19 NLT

I think this verse is one that nearly the entire world needs to commit to memory!  I know I do!  It's so important for us to to actually listen when someone is talking to us.  In this world of electronics and gadgets, I watch so many people sitting together appearing to have a conversation but there is no eye contact; there is no line of connection between them; they have their faces in their phone!  

I have to ask, are they really listening to each other?  Now, I am as guilty as they come.  I love to play on my iPad.  I take it nearly everywhere I go.  I play my games while my hubby is driving down the road.  I play my games at dinner (not when we're home but when we're eating out).  It's really pathetic.  I think I'm pretty good at carrying on a conversation in the car while playing my game but my hubby would disagree.  My part of those conversations go more like a nod and a 'yep' than a true conversation!  

I try to put the game down.  I really do, but I get bored easily and if the one I'm with isn't talking, I'll pull out my phone or iPad.  I use the excuse that being on the iPad helps keep my brain active.  Ha!  Here could be some truth to that but I think it may really just be an excuse.  We, I, need to put down the electronics and pay attention when having a conversation.  When we don't run off at the mouth and give the other person a chance to speak, we are less likely to misunderstand something said in the conversation and thus get angry.  

I miss the days of actual face to face interaction.  I miss seeing kids outside playing.  I miss seeing families out together actually focused on one another.  I'm not saying electronics and gadgets are bad!  I'm simply saying that we need to remember we were created to be a social being.  God created Eve because He saw that Adam was lonely without other human contact.  We NEED people!

I challenge you...and myself...to start limiting your time with electronics and
gadgets!  Then use the time normally sent with those things to engage with another HUMAN!  Take time to listen to them.  Pay attention to their facial expressions, the tone of their voice, etc.  Take time to speak but speak things of value.  And don't be so quick to jump on the angry wagon!  I'm going to be serious about this and try to limit my game time in the car so that I can engage in conversation with my hubby!  I'm going to stop taking my iPad into the restaurants we visit.  Yes, I'll still have my phone, but I'm going to do my best to keep it in my purse!  Will you?  Will you make the attempt to go back to actual face to face conversations rather than attempting to have one while looking at social media?  Let's do this together and see where it takes us!

Have a wonderful day,