Anonymous Intimacy

We live in a digital world. In many ways, we are more connected than we have ever been. Think about it for a minute. We communicate with cell phones, texts, emails, instant messages, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, satellite, blogging, Skype...the list goes on and on. All of these forms of communication have their purpose; however, it's important that they never take the place of authentic community.

In his book Flickering Pixels, Shane Hipps warns against the trap of 'anonymous intimacy'. He says, "It provides just enough connection to keep us from pursuing real intimacy. In a virtual community, our contacts involve very little real risk and demand even less of us personally. Vulnerability is optional. A community that promises freedom from rejection and makes authentic emotional investment optional can be extremely appealing, remarkably efficient, and a lot more convenient."

True relationship building is often inconvenient and difficult, but it can be very rewarding! In fact, it's all a part of God's plan for his children. He never meant for us to be alone. We experience the blessings of Christ through relationships with others in a way that we do not when we are alone.

So the next time you send a text or make a "friend" on Facebook (I have 400 or so now!!!), remember that this kind of connecting can only take you so far. Lunch anyone?