In a previous post, I spoke of the important of developing intimate friendships and avoiding isolation. Never did I imagine we would find ourselves battling a pandemic that requires we isolate ourselves and limit our physical contact with those outside of our immediate family members. In my previous post, I noted the impact of technology in fostering superficial relationships and contributing to our isolation. But today, I note the importance of using technology to liberate us from our isolation.
I meet daily with my work team via Microsoft Teams, but we make it a point to turn the cameras on. We get to see each other in our homes with all the interruptions that make the experience so much more intimate. We have wives walking by the camera with their hair in a towel, children jumping up and down on the bed, dogs barking, leaf blowers sounding, school teachers zooming in and so much more. These welcomed interruptions provide a glimpse into the daily lives of my teammates, it provides for a greater level of intimacy with people with whom I share a significant portion of my life. It helps me serve them with a greater level of understanding, compassion, and appreciation. The same is true for my friends and family as I can use the same technology to ensure a more intimate contact with each of them; contact beyond a simple text, voice mail or e-mail. I can see and experience their daily realities and feel like I'm right there with them. How awesome!
Poet John Donne wrote the poem No Man Is An Island to remind us that every person "is a piece of the continent, a part of the main...". We depend on each other for the social contact that helps formulate who we are and will become. Technology can never replace the need for touch, the need to feel the presence of another, the vibrations of another's laughter, or the embrace of the one whose sorrow leads to tears. But if used appropriately, technology can help us better connect with others and offset the isolation forced upon us by this pandemic. Just a little advice to go!
