Putting the Personal Back into Interpersonal

I made a choice on this go-around of my newsletter to send it out one person or family at a time. Let me rephrase that: I am still in the process of sending it one address at a time, because this is no small task with an e-mail list of 300 addresses. This isn't always going to be possible (or maybe it will be...I haven't formed a firm opinion yet). But it has been a big blessing. Sending it slowly gave me time to pray for people more personally. It reminded me of the huge number of people praying for me. And it brought more responses back than any e-mail I've ever sent out. I heard from many friends I don't hear from often. I got caught up with some of you and heard the news of your lives. And I learned better how to pray for people whom I love. Bulk mail, whether postal or electronic, serves an important purpose, and a general newsletter helps me get more information out faster, but nothing is quite as good as one-to-one for remembering our interconnectedness in the body of Christ. So many of the people I send that newsletter to are hundreds of miles away from me. Some I haven't seen in months or even years now. But then an e-mail comes (some with pictures....joy!) and the time peels away, and I remember how much I love my brothers and sisters. That is a roundabout way of saying: Keep in touch. I am so thankful for the friends, old and new, God has placed in my life and in this work!