The world is changing, which I know, is not news. What is news, however, is the speed at which it’s changing.  Technologies are advancing, third world countries are industrializing, and cultures are shifting at unprecedented rates. Most of us are not even aware at how fast this change is occurring. It’s hard to see it in our day to day routine, but it’s there. Every time we use Google or log onto Facebook, the speed of change is staring right back at us. Don’t understand what I mean? Then take a couple minutes and watch the following video:

That video should make you think. Are you helping accelerate this change or are you still trying to figure what Facebook and Twitter are all about? Are you excited about the future or are you worried? If you’re like me, then your feelings are mixed. I love technology (just like Napoleon Dynamite’s brother Kip) and am optimistic about the future, but I am concerned that we’re losing something extremely valuable with every technological advancement. I think that valuable gem is called “community.” I don’t mean online community where I have the ability to post the “highlights” of my life and my “hottest” pictures. I mean physical community, where you get to see the good, bad and the ugly. When I’m sick, have snot coming down my face, and can only moan in pain, my wife gets to see that and live that, but my online community gets “I’m not feeling well.” See the difference?

Although I love twitter, facebook, linkedin, myspace, and every other online community out there, I am painfully aware of the loss in personal face-to-face relationship. Social media is great and connects us with billions of people from all around the world, but if we can’t do relationship with the person standing in the same room as us, then what’s the point?

The world is changing, but how much will it change you and how much will you change it? What does all this change mean for you?

More change: