-The power of presence. It’s a real thing, isn’t it? God WITH us? Heaven come down and all that...? But seriously, trying to communicate and conduct relationships and business in abstentia is a trying task, if not impossible. Long-distance is for the birds, isn’t it? Or at least it used to be. Way back before FaceTime and Snapchat, before cell phones and text messages, before email and fiber optic, before Alexander Graham Bell and the Pony Express even, long-distance was only through letters. Handwritten hand-delivered letters had to suffice for any non face-to-face communication. Before hand-tossed pizza, it was hand-tossed letters. Hand-made. Laborious, to be sure, a bit of a lost art, perhaps, letter writing - but not at all ideal for communication. You have the considerable delay (weeks!) between messages, and there is not one iota of non-verbal in the mix ("they" say communication is 93% NON-verbal). Face-to-face always was (and still is!) the best medium for any form of communication, as it allows for maximum non-verbal, as well as maximum immediacy. Feedback can be instantaneous. If you are conveying any kind of truth or instructions for an assistant or a student, coaching and practical tips and truths, face-to-face in-person is always going to be the best context in which to do that. In our day (thanks to technology), a second best option would be some kind of live two-way video communication (altho sometimes the technology is not available or decides not to cooperate - so, not as reliable). Next best would be live voice-to-voice, like the telephone, for which the technology thankfully is almost always pretty reliable. But now you’re getting into an even greater loss of non-verbal. No facial expressions, no physical contact for affirmation, etc. No presence.
-But all these live forms of communication are vastly superior to any kind of handwritten or even digital words-only interchange. Words - the content of the message - apparently then constitute only some 7% of communication. The rest is all tone of voice and facial expressions and body language. Even if it is semi “live” - as in texting - there is so much which can be lost in-between the lines and the letters, so much which can be misconstrued and misinterpreted. Granted, emojis might bring that up a percentage point or two. But words-only ought not be used for any but the most mundane insignificant communication. By no means are we trolling the power and efficacy of the written Word of God, mind you. And to be sure there is still much which can indeed be accomplished by the stroke of the mighty pen (or by keystrokes). But when it comes to relationships, pick up the flipping phone (does anyone still even have a flip phone) and at least use your voice, for the love of Pete - or whoever it is you’re trying to reach. Let them hear your voice, hear your emotion. And if you are able, by all means go see them in person. Think about it. If you have something significant to communicate, especially if that individual is important to you, you ought not settle for a 7% form of communication. Yes, Skype and FaceTime and Zoom and their ilk have revolutionized the possibilities of long-distance coaching and relationships, but they still fall short. What they lack is the power of presence. Better by far is face-to-face, and even ancient Paul knew the truth of this. And he was trying to get to Timothy as quickly as possible.
-And to this point, the priority of the non-verbal ought to inform how the church does in fact convey the truth of the Gospel to the next generation and to the world. Next verse...
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