(This is a follow-up to my post last week. You can read it here if you haven’t already.)
Observing the transition from our sorry old windows to new, clear, cleanable ones was exciting. I watched with satisfaction as the installer removed one of the old windows, taking a few pictures along the way. I was glad to see the increased light and visibility when the old one was removed. Then the installer put in the new one.
Hmmmm. There were smudges on the brand-new window! I carefully inspected it to make sure the smudges were cleanable (not that I’d ever get them all cleaned off, but at least I would have a running shot at it). Whew! Well-made with no internal smudges… But then I realized that these windows were treated to reduce UV transmissions, and doggone if it didn’t make a difference in the colors I could see through it! I just couldn’t seem to see things the same through the window as I saw them directly. Drat!
Suddenly, I realized that I was living with something Paul talked about centuries ago, although he was speaking of mirrors rather than windows. “… now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.” It’s just not the same if we’re not face-to-face. Paul, of course, was talking about what it will be like when we leave this imperfect world and encounter the Lord in a perfect, heavenly place. (Read more here.) But it got me thinking how much better we are able to see, feel, encounter and understand when we’re face-to-face.
Living in this crazy world of “social media” (virtual interaction (?) with others), remote communication of all kinds, and one- or two-dimensional interfacing, we begin to lose the sense of reality that we experience when we are physically present with someone. It may be that the more familiar we become with “virtual” interaction, the less familiar we become with reality. This carries with it the very real risk of confusing the two – reality and “virtual reality.” We begin to conflate the imaginary and remote with the personal and present.
It’s kind of like being grouchy with someone because we had a dream about them in which they irritated us. We need to know the difference.
Is this all a way to say that we should take all the windows out of our houses so we can be more in touch with the realities outside? Nope. But I think that we must be aware of the costs of insulating ourselves, physically (as with glass), or emotionally and spiritually (as with “virtual” reality), hiding in our own little “bubble.” A walk outside is a healthy thing. Interacting face-to-face is, too.
I also think that the pandemic caused us all to hesitate in our personal interactions, making us over-cautious and hesitant to get close to or touch others. I think this caused as much if not more harm than the pandemic itself, but that’s my opinion.
Jesus didn’t stay in heaven, interacting and influencing from afar (although he could have). He came down for some genuine face-to-face interaction regardless of the risks. He “walked a mile in our shoes,” becoming human even in some very gruesome respects (see Philippians 2:5-8). Theologians call it “The Incarnation.” I call it genuine love. If you love someone, you want to be with them, face-to-face, hug-able and touchable, not far away or virtual. God did that. Jesus endured even the worst this world has to offer so he could see us eye-to-eye and touch us. The Holy Spirit indwells us and empowers us to do the same.
That makes me think of my own “bubble.” Seeing the view out of my new window makes me think of my unintended insulation from others. It’s time to follow Jesus, and get outside of that bubble, and return to touching others’ lives in a face-to-face manner.
Join me, if you dare!