HEY MIKE! I met a girl at camp who has all the qualities I’m looking for — including a strong faith in God. The problem is, she lives in one state, I live in another. Can a long-distance relationship work? Or would it be better to stick with friendship?
— J.S., Beaverton, Ore.
At first, a long-distance relationship seems like just the ticket. But give it a month or two, and you’ll quickly realize that it’s hard to grow together when you’re miles apart.
For starters, chat rooms and cell phone calls simply can’t be substitutes for face-to-face interaction. Cyber time is too impersonal, and a T-Mobile connection gives a one-dimensional slice of the real person. These ways of interacting totally leave out cool stuff, like that incredible smile of hers that makes your heart pound — and not-so-cool stuff, such as that nervous drooling thing that could end up turning you off!
A relationship needs lots and lots of personal, "three-dimensional" communication in order to grow: spending time together, looking at each other’s faces, reading each other’s expressions. Girls value personal interaction. They like seeing you after class and telling you everything that happened during lunch. They also like being seen with you in public — like at basketball games or youth group functions.
I suggest you stick with friendship. 
