Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.    (2 John 12)

I once had a serious break with my daughter that was breaking my heart.

I wrote and called many times over the course of two years, but no response.

Finally, I decided to fly from Houston to Maine to find her.  Without letting her know I was coming, I went to her place and knocked on the door.

She looked more than a little startled when she looked through the window, but she did open the door and said, “Dad, what are you doing here?” I said, “I’ve come to make peace.”

She said, “I’m busy today.”   I said, “I’ll be here tomorrow.”

She said, “I’m busy tomorrow.”    I said, “Then, I’ll be here everyday until we talk.”

She said, “Did you really come this far to do that?”    I said, “Yes, and I’m not leaving until we do.”

The point of this story is that some conversations must happen face-to-face.  Although emailing, texting, and calling can be helpful, some conversations must happen, as today’s author says, “face-to-face.”

Is there someone you need to talk with face-to-face?  Is there a conversation you’ve been postponing because you’re afraid it will be hard or painful?  As fearful as that conversation might be, it’s often the conversations we don’t have that we most need to fear.

On the afternoon of the day I showed up at my daughter’s place, we talked for three hours.  It began our journey back to each other.  The beginning of the healing and understanding we needed could’ve only happened by talking face-to-face.

I know that the face-to-face contact that was so essential for us can be the way to healing and understanding for others.   If I’m talking to you right now, I encourage you to reach out to the person with whom you may need to have that face-to-face conversation.  It might be the beginning of your journey back into a relationship that will heal your own hearts.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you have some people you need to have that face-to-face conversation with? If you think you don’t, are you in denial?

2. If you are going to have that face-to-face conversation with someone, be prepared to make amends and claim your part in the mess. Are you ready to do that?

3. I once had a mentor say this: “Jim, you must decide if you would rather be right or be in relationship.” How would you answer?