Every time I open my email inbox and see a FWD I feel like one of those babies in the back. It's like the leaving of cookies on someone's door step. Sure it's cute and fun, and brings a warm fuzzy into someone's heart for a moment. But isn't it possible that it would mean much more to open the door and find a friend standing there. Just like it might be nice to open one's inbox and find a real email, sent just to them.
Where is the human contact? The real contact? The "Reach out and touch someone"?
Ever hear the biblical story of Mary and Martha. I'll paraphrase. The Savior came to visit them and Martha ran around trying to make sure everything was just right for their guest, while Mary stayed with him. Martha chided Mary, telling the Savior Mary needed to be helping her out with the dishes or whatever it was. The Savior pointed out that Mary was in the right.
Do we really understand what this story is trying to teach us? The message can be summed up very easily: "People are more important." They are more important than the dishes, than nap time, than a t.v. show, than homework. Whatever it is, you name it, people are more important. Are we really making time for the people we care about when we point and click 20 some odd email address's into the "Send To" box and pass along a funny picture or an uplifting story? Would it really take that much more time to point and click on "Compose Mail" and send a little note of "How are you? Here's what's new with me."?
Reach into the back of that orphanage that is your email address book and make a real connection with a person who may be withering away from the lack of human contact.
