Is it wrong to want a little bit more than the typical interaction of today, where we are connected to the rest of the world through this thing that we call the internet and world wide web, and yet do not even interact with the people that we live with, and much less with the neighbor next door? What is this world coming to when families stay in touch completely digitally and do nothing to go beyond this primitive yet technologically advanced form of communication. All of these developments that happen on a daily basis, that enable each one of us to be an ever more efficient cog in the great machine of an economy like the one in the United States, and by extension a significant cog in the wheels that turn the international economy, seem to draw us farther and farther away from one another. Certainly we are all connected, but in reality we only ever get snippets of one another as we carry on with our constant work. Ironically I write this post, ostensibly hoping that someone will read it, agree with me, write me a brief comment and carry on reading and writing at the lightning pace that we now recognize to be the standard and a good one at that. How far have we come when we are judged on every single thing that we do, that our writing is our speaking, that we live by virtual example? Is this right? Can this even be possible? I used to think of my online presence as an opportunity for fun, and know that plenty of people still treat it as a means of altering themselves from what they actually are in real life, to what they truly want and dream to be online.
Perhaps I am too hasty in writing this off, but I feel that all of us truly need that interpersonal interaction that makes life worth living. Maybe this comes in the form of a spouse or children, or a community in which we live, but if we do not receive this sort of intimacy in our lives, if we do not truly experience the love that sets us apart from the animals, then we are nothing more than they are, running around on little wheels and at the end of the race still nothing more than just rats.
The web and internet that connects us can be a very good thing, as long as at the end it leads us to encounter one another more deeply and grow to understand what life is about and what we are intended to do with it. For life is too short, and nothing can replace the feeling of a hug freely given and freely received. These are the things that make life worth living and without which life becomes terribly lonely and boring. And this is something that not one of us could ever truly desire for our lives in our heart of hearts. Every day I walk around and see people thirsting for attention and a good conversation "in-person". These online chats, and email conversations are great to a point; to keep us in touch, and facilitate communication on events and happenings, but when it comes to real-life questions, how good is it? Really?
Sometimes I desire to run away from it all, from the rat race that encourages us to step on one another in order to get ahead. Every time I am presented with the opportunity my heart immediately gives way for the person that comes after. If I want something badly enough I suppose I will offer up my best effort and hope that I do come out as the selected one, but the more I live, the less I am inclined to compete in this cut-throat economy. Rather teach those who will be going out and making the decisions in this world how to form moral judgments and live lives worth living.
Intimacy is where at all starts. Something that we need throughout our lives, and if we have not found it, it is something that must be the goal of a continual search, until we reach a point that we can speak with anyone and cheer them up. A friend recently told me the story of the young man who was carrying a large load of books home from school one day, and the other young man who saw him get knocked over and ridiculed by another group of boys, and then ultimately decided to help the young man, which lead the two to become the best of friends. From here they reached high school graduation, upon which the young man who had carried the books was named valedictorian, and in making his speech to the graduating class and all present, described how on that day he had cleaned out his locker because he didn't want his mother to have to do it later as he was going home to commit suicide.
Do you think that an email or a Facebook message could have stopped him from doing this? Someone saying that they liked his status or his photo and wanted him to take some meaningless survey would have changed his mind from the act he was well on his way to committing? I don't think so. Yes all of these connections are wonderful, but at the end of the day it comes down to one-on-one interaction, conversation about anything or nothing, that keeps us living and breathing and desiring to keep living and breathing. Argue with me all you want, I will hold this point until the day I die. Life is too short to have only this "impoverished" form of communication with others. It is high time that we stood up from behind our computers and went home and told our mothers that we love them. Sit and listen to what they have to say. I hate to break it to you, but money is not all that matters in this life. Yes it is good to live well, and but how much does it take to live so, and how much of your time are you being forced to sacrifice for this good life?
Perhaps others can live the crazy life, always working, but when I look deep into their eyes and souls I sense a yearning for something more. Yes money is important and we should not forget this, but do not forget about the importance of relationships in your life, the people that are closest to you cannot be replaced and they can disappear in an instant. Facebook, email, all of the things online and internet will be there for a long time to come, but not the people who we should care about the most.
