Do You Know Me?

Back in January, I shared my views on a rather hot topic in this country - our current President. Needless to say, it generated a bit of reaction from all sides. Most surprising, however, was the fact that a number of folks were shocked and surprised at my comments. Yet, if folks had been paying attention to my thoughts and updates, would they have really been all that surprised?

Friends, it comes down to an important virtue. Do we take the time to listen to our peers in an effort to know them better? 

Social media brings with it a number of pros and cons. Never before in history have we had an easier way of communicating with our family and friends. With just a few clicks, we can message just about anyone about anything. It makes things almost too easy. On the flip side, however, we tend to take this convenience for granted. In many cases, we no longer invest the time in good, thoughtful conversation. Our main interaction with many is nothing more than a casual scroll through their status updates. Even then, we can be too busy to fully digest and understand what is written. We claim to know each other well when in reality we do not know each other at all. We don't take the time to get to know each other. I think is one reason why some were surprised at my candid thoughts on the current political situation. 

Some of the greatest moments in my life have been centered around those late-night conversations with dear friends. It's a time where we express our joys and our frustrations with one another. We laugh, we cry, but most importantly we learn from one another. Truly, thought-filled discussions with others is one of the most enlightening experiences that life has to offer. It allows us to understand other perspectives as we try to better understand our own. Sadly, it's an art that has been lost on many.

As we move forward in this new year, perhaps we should examine how we might re-invest in those relationships. How can we be intentional about making time for others? How can we get to know each other better than before? Maybe it's time that we come to the table and start talking with each other again.


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