The Human Connection

My cell phone rang.
It did not hear The Walton’s theme song so I knew it was not my family.
I looked and saw that it was a call from the place where I get my hair cut.
They were calling to remind me of my appointment the next day.

If I’m out running errands or my phone is on silent the message goes to voicemail.
But this time, I was in the kitchen and the phone was right there.
This time I answered the call.
The voice on the other end seemed startled.

Oh, this is to remind you that you have an appointment tomorrow at 11:00.
Thank you, I’ll be there, I said smiling more at her voice than at the message itself.
You seemed surprised that I answered, I remarked.
You cannot imagine how nice it is to hear an actual voice, she said with emphasis.

It takes so long to leave a message when it is someone’s voicemail, she continued.
It is just so nice to talk to a real person.
I agreed with her.
It was nice talking with you too, I reminded her.

Imagine being surprised to get a real voice on the other end of the phone.
If we were honest, there are those times when leaving a message is preferred.
However, for the day-to-day calls I understand her frustration.
To get a real person anymore when you make a phone call is rare indeed.

We call businesses and have to go through the entire list of prompts before pressing a number.
How frustrating when what you need is actually the last number in the prompt.
You think that you can bypass the automated voice, so you press zero.
Only to find that the voice goes back to the beginning and you were really to press five.

It is frustrating.
We live in a technological age where the world is literally at our fingertips.
Yet we crave human interaction.
God wired us that way.

We need human touch,
We need human conversation.
We need a sense of community.
We need each other.

The very next day, as I was still pondering this, I went food shopping.
I see the tall friendly man who works in the produce section each week.
One week when I was buying sweet potatoes he asked me how I cooked them.
I’m going to make soup with these, I said.

I would like the recipe for that, he boldly said.
I always need something I can have simmerin’ on the stove for when I get home from church.
I will give you the recipe, I promised.
He smiled but he wasn’t at all sure that I meant it.

I meant it.
I copied the recipe when I got home.
I brought it back to the store the next day.
It was his day off.

I decided that I would simply hold on to the recipe until my next shopping trip.
The next week, I brought the recipe with me but didn’t see the sweet man.
I asked for him.
Oh, he’s in the back room; I’ll get him, a young boy said.

He came out of the swinging doors that lead to the back room.
Well, hello, sister, he called loudly.
I have the recipe for you so now you can have sweet potato soup simmering on the stove.
I thank you, kindly; oh this looks GOOD! He said with excitement.

Do you like to cook? I asked really wanting to know.
I love to cook and I love to read, he answered.
I’ll just have me some of this delicious soup and read my book after Sunday service.
What are you reading? I asked really wanting to know.

Well, I like me some science fiction and I like the Good Book, he said.
I don’t read science fiction, I told him, but I like the Good Book, too.
He slapped his knee.
I knew it; I knew you were my sister! He said quite excitedly.

You just know when you run into another believer, he said quite sure of himself.
I can always tell, he said with certainty.
Spirit calls to Spirit, he said.
You know, I think you’re absolutely right, I said in response and I meant it.

Now when he sees me he addresses me as, My sister.
It is fitting.
That is what I am.
In Christ, the Holy Spirit connects us.

He made me laugh a few weeks ago.
My sister, human beings can be terrible people, he said and he meant it.
When they don’t know the Lord, they can be downright nasty!
Are you having a bad, day? I asked not seeing his usual smile.

My sister, I just put this produce on the shelves and when I kneel I pray for them.
That’s the best thing you can do, I reminded him.
Ooooh but they can be nasty!
The good Lord has to take care of them, he said with authority.

Aren’t you glad you’re not God? I remarked.
He slapped his knee again and laughed a hearty laugh.
Oh my goodness, I think they’s the ones that should be glad I’m not God!
I didn’t slap my knee but I should have; we stood next to the lettuce and laughed.

Imagine; that rich conversation would have been lost if we did not meet face to face.
That interaction would not have happened if one of us had to leave a voicemail message.
Something is lost when the human interaction is missing.
Something precious and God-ordained.

Encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact you are doing.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

We can encourage over a voicemail.
We can send an encouraging text message.
There is something about seeing the other person’s eyes that is so important.
There is something about standing there so that the tone is not misinterpreted.

God designed it that way.
One another-ing is so vital for our spiritual walk.
Can you imagine if God sent a text message about how to be saved through His Son?
Can you imagine if God left a voicemail that contained the Gospel?

Something would be lost.
It would not be personal.
And a personal relationship with Jesus is what God the Father desires for us.
So God the Father sent His Son, in the flesh, so that He could be face to face with us.

If God thinks it’s important, then so should we.

2 responses to “The Human Connection”

1. Gina, I so agree! I fear for this generation and those to come who rely on texting, e-mails, etc. and all the non-personal methods of communication. And the joy of actual handwriting–I’m always happy to get a card because of the person’s handwriting on it, another personal communication. We need to see and talk to each other to REALLY communicate!

   Reply

   • Sue,
     God considers relationships so important. We are to encourage one another. There are many ways to do that but the best way is face to face. Giving our time and attention to another person lets them know that they matter to us.
     Gina

     Reply