I had a good talk with a friend recently. She’s an author, and we were talking about the load we bear. She said something like, “I try to limit my time online so that I can spend actual time with the physical people in my life–face to face.”

Her words touched me, wormed their way into my heart. I fear I spend too much time with cyber friends than actual friends. That I minister via email more than bringing food, or praying in person. Of course it didn’t always used to be that way.

Part of it is marketing my books. I work hard at creating an online presence here for the purpose of marketing. And since I’m here, I field a lot of emails and communications with lots of folks. I pray that my interactions in cyberspace are encouraging to others. But even so, it’s not a substitute for loving others who are directly in front of me.

Do you struggle with a virtual life versus a real, human life? What do you do to connect better with people? Unplug? Take a walk with friends? Stop?

I want to make an eternal impact on this earth. Is that even possible on the internet? Have I been duped to think that ministering online is some sort of substitute for ministering in person? I don’t have the answers, just lots of questions.