I grew up in a world without smartphones, tablets, or social media. Our lives were defined not by screens, but by stories. We talked — around fires, in courtyards, under mango trees. We talked to process our pain, our losses, our joys, and our dreams. Conversation was how we healed, how we thought, and how we became human.
In my culture, we say, “I am because we are.” We call it UBUNTU. It means that no person exists in isolation; our identity is formed through relationships. Talking was never optional — it was how we stayed whole. But today, across much of the world, that sacred rhythm is disappearing.
When We Lose Conversation, We Lose Each Other
We are more connected than ever — yet more alone than ever. We carry devices that let us reach anyone, anywhere, at any time, and yet the deeper connections — the kind that form through eye contact, laughter, disagreement, and prayer — are fading fast.
“It is not good that man should be alone.” — Genesis 2:18
When we lose conversation, we lose communion. We begin to live around each other, but not with each other. We scroll through pictures of the community while slowly forgetting how to build one.
Why True Fellowship Still Matters
In my village, when someone suffered a loss, neighbors gathered. We didn’t send messages — we showed up. We sat in silence, then we talked. Sometimes the conversation lasted all night. We told stories of the one who died. Our funerals lasted days as we cried, we sang, and we remembered. That talking was more than social interaction — it was therapy for the soul. The Bible calls it “bearing one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). We didn’t have counselors or hotlines; we had each other. Now, many grieve alone. Many argue online instead of sitting face-to-face. Our technology has advanced, but our fellowship has fractured. And we are paying for it — in anxiety, misunderstanding, and silence.
Why Conversation Isn’t Just Social—It’s Spiritual
Conversation is sacred because God Himself is a communicator. He spoke creation into being (Genesis 1), and His Son is called “the Word made flesh” (John 1:14). To talk, to listen, to share — these are divine activities. James says,
“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” — James 1:19
When we talk with love and listen with grace, we practice the heart of the gospel. Real conversation builds empathy, corrects misunderstandings, and reminds us that our words have the power to give life or death (Proverbs 18:21).
Reclaiming Fellowship in a Distracted Age
The dinner table used to be the classroom of character — a place of prayer, laughter, debate, and belonging. But in many homes today, the table is quiet. Plates glow with the light of phones rather than the warmth of faces. Dinners are now often had in isolation. Children retreat to their bedrooms with their meals, scrolling or streaming as they eat. Fathers disappear into their entertainment rooms, lost in the comfort of television screens. Mothers, weary from the day, slip on their headsets to catch up on their favorite podcasters. Everyone eats — but few commune. The same roof shelters them, yet the home is divided by invisible walls of distraction.
“Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” — Matthew 18:20
This season, let’s gather again. Let’s ask better questions. Let’s tell stories. Let’s talk with our children about their hopes and fears. Let’s call that friend we’ve lost touch with. Let’s reconcile with the one who hurt us. Talking is not weakness — it’s healing.
This Season, Let Your Words Reconnect What Silence Broke
Conversation is how we remember that every person carries the image of God. When we talk, really talk, we see that image again. Paul advises,
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.” — Colossians 4:6
Talking again is not about winning arguments or proving points. It’s about restoring what silence has stolen — community, compassion, and clarity.
So as this holiday season unfolds, unplug the noise and reclaim the gift of words. Invite the Holy Spirit to fill your speech with gentleness and truth. And may every conversation — at your table, in your living room, or across the phone line — become a place where hearts reconnect and Christ is revealed. Because when we begin to talk again, we begin to heal again.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/ Gabriella Clare Marino
