Confession: I’m really starting to hate email. It’s not because of the number that I receive or the amount of time that it takes to respond, although those things can be annoying. Here’s the deal – email is a significant part of what I do and I have recently noticed a trend:
People are becoming more apt to share “bad news” via email than in person.
The scenario: You serve on the weekend and we talk, everything seems great, and then on Monday morning you shoot me an email that says that you are no longer able to be a part of a ministry area or that you are frustrated over an issue in the church.
Honestly, I want to talk in person to you. I don’t want to have to read between the lines. I don’t want to have to wonder about the perceived tone of your email. I don’t want to have to question the “spirit” of the email. I want to see you face to face, look in your eyes and understand what is happening (or at least struggle through hearing it from your lips).
Another confession: I sometimes struggle with hiding behind emails as well. I’m going to make myself get over that. We’re going to talk face to face (or at least on the phone). Our relationship is more valuable than email.
This is a great post I am the worlds worse at
Personally a lot of times I email people stuff because they do not make themselves available otherwise. I do not feel like it would get to them otherwise, or it would take a long time before I saw them in person.
Mike
Amen brother..
As I am dealing with this more in my position I am learning to value this lesson. I am choosing to value the vebal conversations, rather than hiding behind one way written word! What an awesome thought for us all!