Brad Paisley and Online Relationships

This is one country song that had me laughing aloud in a car (by myself) this weekend. It also made me think. (Warning: this video is a typical country video, rated at least PG.)

The older I get and more technologically advanced our society gets – the more friends I know who have met or have at least tried online dating sites. Right or wrong, that is not my judgment to make. Here are just some thoughts to think about (and yes, these apply to regular old-fashioned dating relationships as well).

1. Truth/Honesty. If you don’t know the person you are relating to/trying to get to know other than what they tell you – you really don’t know what you are going to get. Pictures sometimes tell the real truth – sometimes they don’t. Trust is probably the biggest thing I struggle with in a relationship. Honesty is so important – and so hard to get.
2. Accountability. Again – so important an a relationship. In all of my relationships – since none of them have worked – none were being held accountable. I think accountability is something that is missing in most relationships these days – especially online, but in all relationships. That is one of the things I crave in my life and in my relationships. I want others to be able to speak into it and hold by me and the guy I’m dating accountable with our alone time, our physical relationship, our time with God, how we serve the Body of Christ, how we are growing in our walks with Christ separately. All these things.

I am not saying either of these are impossible with online dating services, it just makes them harder. And when relationships are hard enough in the “real world” than why make it harder.
If you need some good thoughts on Relationships – click and listen to Brian Frost speak on how to do relationships right. These were recorded at the Gathering – Providence’s ministry to single adults.