Face-to-Face

I’m a face to face kind of person. I enjoy talking and listening to people much more when I can see their face. Emails are convenient and quick, and I use email consistently throughout the day, but it can never take the place of face to face time.

How often do you have face to face time? How often do you have face to face time that is not forced by work? How often do you have the chance to sit across from another person, look them in the eye, and have meaningful conversation?

The Sauers need more time face to face, especially Alisa and me. We have plenty of face to face time with John, but he is consistently challenged when he’s in the room and Alisa and I are talking face to face. He wants our full attention. “Stop talking.” “Whatcha’ talking about?” He wants our face to be focused on him.

Facing the tv at the same time does not count for face to face time. Driving in a car can be very meaningful face to face time, but often it is just quiet time, time focused on watching the road or listening to music or taking a nap.

Face to face time can be hard, too, can’t it? When there is something between you, it is hard to sit face to face. Looking each other in the eye makes it hard not to address whatever conflict or struggle that exists between you. That is why it is imperative that we take time together face to face.

When couples struggle, they often stop any face to face time. When a son or daughter struggles with a parent, face to face time ends. When there is conflict in a relationship with a friend, we are often tempted to ignore it and avoid any time with them, especially face to face.

Who do you need to spend some face to face time with? Who are you avoiding spending this time with? One of the greatest ways we have the opportunity to really express love to people is to commit to time with them face to face. Make people priority in your life.