Having recently returned to college, I have found my once-tranquil email inbox inundated with tens - nay, hundreds - of superficially important emails. Approximately 20% of the emails that I receive pertain (even tangentially) to my life. About 5% of what I receive in my inbox requires me to respond in some fashion. That act of responding is the topic for today's niblet.
How should I end my email back to someone? It is one of those eternal questions in the vein of "who let the dogs out?" Should I say sincerely when I'm being less than sincere? Should I say thanks even if I don't ask for anything? Should I say something else entirely? I suppose knowing the audience is a big part of responding to email. If, for instance, I am emailing certain professors in the college of architecture and planning, I will invariably end my email with Best. I always send my Warm Regards to professors in the honors college. Emails to classmates rarely get any send-off (or greeting) at all.
But, there are always differing circumstances. Let us remove ourselves from secular email and discuss the most confusing form of communication the world hath ever known - the sacred email. The sacred email typically involves a rather mundane reminder of meeting times and places for certain events occurring in the parish, the Bible study group, etc. These pose a response problem for me. Far be it from me to belittle someone's piety and devotion, but I just don't know how theological people are getting with their emails. Ending with God Bless seems to evoke an image of someone sneezing. In Christ is nice, but a potent send-off. And using something as simple as Peace is just too mainstream. Part of me wants to reply with something like Through the Intercession of the Immaculate Mother of God or In the Mercy of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, but wiser counsel typically prevails.
Wish me well in my dealings with people via email!
Basking in the Brilliant Generosity of Your Readership,
Me
