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In-Person Preferred

March 22, 2022

Life is not meant to be lived alone and online.

I get it, some people don’t need to be in an office. For many people, your work can be done remotely, and I’m not opposed to work from home.

Here’s where I take issue: when we take work that would be accomplished more effectively if done together, and instead we opt for efficiency and do it alone.

It starts like this:

“Well, that conversation sure is more convenient when it’s on Zoom and doesn’t require me to get in the car and drive somewhere. Let’s just connect online.”

In fact, I don’t really want to go into an office. There are fewer distractions at home.

And church? Yeah, we’ve got two young kids so it would be a heck of a lot easier to watch it online. We don’t really need to go in person.

Come to think of it, it might be easier if we just do everything online.

Maybe my wife and I can just go on dates over FaceTime.
And maybe I can put my kids to bed with a Teams meeting.
That call I need to make to my mom? Surely an email would suffice.

After all, it would be far more convenient for me.

 

Look, I’m not against technology. This isn’t a “get off my front lawn” speech from a grumpy old man.

I’m just reminding you: More efficient doesn’t always mean more effective.

Working from home is great (and useful at times), but culture is built from the camaraderie and conversations that happen in person.

I can meet new clients over Zoom, but

I can promise you that the relationships are far richer when they can be cultivated in person.

And when someone is sick or disabled, watching a church service online is a great option. However, church isn’t just about a service, it’s about the community you build with other people. And guess what? Yep, that happens better in person.

I’m not against remote working.

I’m thankful for technology.

But go ahead and put me in the category of “in-person preferred.”

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