Communication Breakdown
You do not have to be an all-pro counselor like Ben Hayes to understand that communication is key to any relationship. Some people like myself talk all the time but communicate very little or at least feel like it. Some people speak very little and when they do it is loud and clear what they mean. On many occasions, body language speaks louder than anything you’re saying. As a coach I put an emphasis on body language and remaining positive. The initiative began with me. As a teacher, parent, coach and preacher I am guilty of sending a very different message with my body language, facial expression and what I’m expressing verbally. It can be difficult to get out of those bad habits. My desire to employ sarcasm doesn’t help matters.
The phrase “we live in the information age” is an understatement. We can know as much data as our little brains can contain and yet there is more. Regardless of age, all of us are bombarded with information. Our kids are especially overloaded. My upbringing bridged the gap between the analog and digital age. I feel like I was equipped with the ability to filter out what I wanted to know and didn’t. If I could avoid the school bully till 3 PM then I was safe until 8 AM the next morning. It was difficult enough and I didn’t carry him around in my pocket everywhere I went.
I don’t remember my mom having a conversation with me about my cell phone usage until I racked up an enormous bill with my first one. Outside of the money, no one knew at that time, what having a cellular device could do so no one knew how to or why they should breach the subject. We were all learning together and still are. We do however have enough information now to know it should be a topic of discussion. I’m sure there are plenty of stats on the pros and cons of being available 24 hours, 7 days a week. I don’t believe the cell phone is the only culprit or the solution to all of our problems. A good conversation with our young people and ourselves about how much we are addicted to it should be had.
I do know at the very least it is of utmost importance that we are coming alongside our young people and helping them learn to filter all of the information they receive everyday. I’m 41 years old and could certainly do a better job of policing my online habits so I can’t imagine what kids with very little experience without the internet being ever present must be dealing with. As that previously stated 41 ticks up to 42, I find it increasingly difficult to breakthrough to the younger generations. It is a task I face everyday. Some days are better than others. On the more difficult days I am tempted to give up but I am quickly reminded of all the people who refused to give up on me. Satan loves for us to find reasons to stop communicating and the world doesn’t seem to be too far behind him. So let me encourage you today to at the very least communicate the love you have for those around you. If for no other reason than to make Satan mad. Wouldn’t it be a great habit to form to encourage someone everyday for the next 21 days. What is stopping you in this information age. We are more equipped than ever before to “spread God’s love like dandelions” (TobyMac).
Travis
Checkout this podcast from Lonnie Jones that inspired this blog post.