Modern technology. A blessing and a curse. I love and hate it.
Computers. Email. Television. DVDs. Video games. Phones. Cell phones. Radio. MP3 players. CD players. Gadgets that fit in the palm of your hand. You get the picture. Visual and audio overload. What’s next?
I love email. It connects me with people all over the US and even abroad. I hate it because it’s the first thing I do when I walk in my house. And when I’m home, I check it compulsively. I’m always hoping for a personal email. An acknowledgement to my existence.
Television connects me with the world and current events. I rely on it for info on school closures. I enjoy Fox News. TV offers me fluff and fantasy too. Most of it is garbage. I watch TV in my kitchen. It keeps my mind off the dirty dishes I’m washing. Or off my cooking when I prepare a meal. TV is a good distraction.
For my birthday, Grandma took me and my family to dinner at the new Old Chicago’s. TV’s were hanging everywhere. Each one on a different channel. I had a hard time talking and listening because a TV flickered in front of me wooing me for my attention. Televisions are everywhere: in gyms, banks, on the chairbacks in planes, in restaurants and minivans, even on refrigerators. They affect our communication. We talk less. We focus on a screen and ignore a stranger. We even ignore those we love. And so, we live more connected to the world, but more alone.
I love music. I listen to it everyday. Loud. I love all music except really twangy country and screaming heavy metal. I listen to a CD everyday during my hour long carpool route. What would I do without it?
My cell phone is a good thing. I make most of my calls while driving. Multi-tasking feels good. It’s not the safest thing to do. But my excuse is my cell phone works everywhere except at home.
Recently I ate lunch at Red Robin with a friend. When I went to ladies room and shut the stall door, I saw above me a 19 inch TV hanging from the ceiling. Three sportcasters starred at me. I laughed. I couldn’t hear their words because there was music playing too. What’s up with a TV in a two stall bathroom? Isn’t music enough? What a waste of money! This was right after Katrina hit. I thought about telling the manager to send the TV to those who lost everything. Do we really need entertainment in a public bathroom? Who wants to stay there long? Not I.
Technology. It’s always moving forward changing the way we live. It’s amazing to think of what we can’t live without anymore. I can’t imagine not having email or my cell phone. I’d be lost.
For the past three weeks at church, our pastor taught a series about stillness and silence. I’m so excited. He’s singing my heart’s song. I want to yell, “Yes! This is the key to experiencing life to the full.” I find the most peace and joy in the quiet of my day, usually my mornings when I meet with God. I know technology is going to keep advancing and calling my name, but there is one thing I refuse to give up. And that is . . . the still moments I take to be with God.
Technology cannot compete to the greatness of knowing and experiencing God. But it’ll always keep trying.
(c) 2005 Tiffany Stuart
great perspective, Tiffany, and well said. thank you. What I’d like to know is, what led you to discover silence and solitude as a way to God?
I’d like to say God’s voice to all is like a “silent voice”, and removing all of the noise and distractions that are around us, is required to allow that “silent voice” to be more like a felt, rather than heard sensory………
I can relate with the technology of life that surrounds us. If my internet is down, I cannot teach my cyberspace students. We don’t get snow days. I agree that it is both a blessing and curse. My laptop sits on my kitchen counter for easier access while I’m changing a diaper or cooking dinner. I’m always juggling several balls. However, there are times when God wants my attention while I’m busy working at night and my battery runs out. I always know that it is time to shut it OFF! My daughter says, “shut the door” when she wants my attention. So, the laptop goes shut.