In our column today, we talked about contacting folks who are experiencing hard times, and how hard this can be if you've been out of touch.

When we lose touch with relatives and friends after many years, it can seem both awkward and impossible to reconnect. “When you’re stuck in neutral, it takes effort to shift, to write something and put it in the mail,” said Frank Bach, a Diocesan priest in Spokane who often shares with people one way to shift out of neutral. He calls it “the ministry of the short note.” It works like this. No matter how much time has passed since your last contact, sit down and write the card.

Actually, Facebook can make it very easy to reconnect. Have you reconnected with friends or extended family members after a long silence? How did it go?

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