I had to send the email last week that said, “Can we stop all these emails?”. It seems there is no “email etiquette”. Instead, everyone chimes in whether they have something to add, and the email chain grows. Or they become vicious attacks filled with accusations before the perpetrator re-reads their message and angrily hits “send”.

I’ve never read the 2nd letter of John before, but my Bible fell open to this one chapter letter. John writes around AD 85-95 to warn of taking in and supporting false teachers. It would be wrong to even unintentionally contribute to the propagation of heresy rather than truth.

Has email disintegrated into a vehicle to spread heresy?

Interestingly, John ends his short letter written over 1900 years ago, “I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”

I had the pleasure of traveling with 38 pilgrims from my church on an 11-day excursion to England in May of this year. The Cathedrals and country estates were beautiful and I have never seen flowers more luscious. But the best part was having meals at different tables and getting to know people better. We all had the same deadlines to get on the bus each day so we had no place to rush off to and could linger over a shared cup of coffee or tea.

It is impossible to have a real relationship with someone through email or texting. I plan to spend more time with my best friends, “face to face”, making sure that “our joy will be complete” in knowing and growing the depth of our relationship.

Blessings, my friend,
Agatha

St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, County of Berkshire, England