Finding 3D Connection in a 1D World

Don’t forget! Tuesday, August 4 @ 4:30 pm PDT. Zoom in and take a seat for a time of prophetic encouragement and Q&A.

For over forty years, I traveled this incredible globe. I don’t know about you, but a lot of the digital spaces we hang out in feel completely one-dimensional to me. I actually looked up the mathematical definition of one-dimensional recently, and it said:

“Defined by a single coordinate point; lacking both width and depth.”

Lacking width and depth. That perfectly describes how I feel about social media most days.

Yet, here I am, showing up in your feed, hoping to catch your attention. My actual prayer—and yes, I do pray about this—is that these digital notes might somehow open the door to real, thoughtful conversations with some actual depth.

Escaping the “Back in My Day” Trap

Let me be clear: I have zero desire to be “That Guy.” You know the one—the guy who constantly complains that *back in his day*, things were better, or that my generation had it so much harder. I know there is nothing new under the sun, and I am genuinely all for positive progress. I’m certainly not anti-social media, or I wouldn’t be sitting here writing today.

But it does leave me wrestling with a very real question: **How do we actually connect face-to-face anymore?**

The Loss of Built-In Community

I spoke, ministered, and led worship in churches, at conferences, and on countless stages. The beauty of that life was that connection was practically built-in.

After every event, people would naturally drift up to the front to say hello.

“Hi, I’m Bob, thanks for your time...”

“Hey Bob, it’s great to meet you.”

Sometimes it turned into a deep conversation, sometimes it was just a passing handshake. But either way, I was standing in front of a real, breathing human being. We were sharing the same physical space, reading each other’s body language, and communicating in real-time.

Does anyone else miss that organic, three-dimensional interaction? Or is it just me? Am I just feeling the friction of transitioning off the road, or is it fair to admit that a screen is never going to fully satisfy our very human need to connect?

The Introvert/Extrovert Dilemma

When I was traveling, my social outlets were handed to me on a silver platter: the guy sitting next to me on a flight, the attendees at an event, the local leaders hosting me in their city.

Now? I feel like a 71-year-old man trying to relearn how to make friends. And the funny thing is, I’m not even a hardcore introvert. I’m more of an ambivert—I need my quiet time, but I also enjoy engaging with others.

So, I’m turning the floor over to you. **Honestly, how are you meeting people these days?**

Between remote work, busy schedules, and the digital noise, how do you find your people? Help this floundering—but highly willing—older guy discover some new paths to grow in the modern art of connecting.