physical presence

i love email.  i hate email.  i love it because it so convenient.  i love it because i can ask a question, send a message without risking a conversation that takes longer than it needs to.  i hate it because it prevents conversations that might need to happen from happening face to face.  i love it because i can quickly send a message from my phone while i at work.  i hate it because i think somehow i've done the connecting that needs done, and that an email is sufficient...

at Emergentia last year, Tony Kriz came and shared some thoughts he had on what the church had to offer this increasingly technological culture.  one of the things he mentioned was presence.  he showed us a YouTube video of a virtual friend thing that is being created that can recognize your voice, 'show' empathy, express encouragement...even 'take' things that you 'give' to them.  its quite extraordinary, really...but, it can never hug you, it can never hold your hand, experience life with you, pat you on the back for encouragement...these things he said are where the church can address a real need that technology can never meet.

i wonder how often i neglect physical presence for email, for phone calls, facebook messages...when what is really needed is shared laughs, tears, emotions with someone with skin on...