Technology! There is nothing like it. It used to be so
simple and waiting rooms used to be quite things where the only sound was the
occasional flip of a magazine page, a muffled cough and perhaps a murmured
conversation. Then came the beepers. I still recall having to pull to the side
of the road in the pouring rain to answer a page from my boss and that allowed
him to add another appointment to my Friday calls. Then comes the car phone
age... Thankfully, I avoided those big black phone bags!
Then... my doctor called while I’m forking chimmychunga into
my mouth. So I talk to him
about my blood work and my medication while there are... oh... about 40 people
within hearing distance. Fortunately, I didn’t have to say anything personal, or have to talk too loud.
Then, I get caught in the middle of Walmart right between
the T-shirts and capri pants and this would have been a for real, honest to
goodness JOB interview, if I’d been at home in front of my trusty laptop. But,
no, I’m standing there watching my Mom rummage through T-shirts with her
magnifying glass to find the right size while I’m trying to talk about government
contracts. I felt totally displaced and inadequate.
How can anyone talk business like that? God did not intend
for us to do business like that. If He had, He would have invented cell phones
along with Man.
“Adam...this is God. Adam… ?”
“The party you are trying to reach is out of the service
area. Please try your call again at a later time.”
On second thought... maybe that is exactly what happened.
I took a technology break... vacation... tech fast, what ever term you would like to use. I did not totally unplug, but I did unplug enough to have an eye-opening experience. Other people have taken Facebook breaks too...
Some of the verbatim thoughts from those who took Facebook breaks include the following: “I was tired of stupid comments.” … “[I had] crazy friends. I did not want to be contacted.” … “I took a break when it got boring.” … “It was not getting me anywhere.” … “Too much drama.” ... “You get burned out on it after a while.” … “I gave it up for Lent.” … “I was fasting.” … “People were [posting] what they had for dinner.” … “I didn’t like being monitored.” … “I got harassed by someone from my past who looked me up.”… “I don’t like their privacy policy.” … “It caused problems in my [romantic] relationship.”
I felt all of these “symptoms” (except for Lent) as
technology crept into my life several years ago. As I developed habits with
technology (mainly my computer for school, and my online Bible study group
where we discussed and studied all parts of the Bible), I noticed other things
falling apart in my life. Dust built up on furniture, beds remained unmade,
cooking consisted of anything I could throw in the crockpot. I didn’t exercise
as much. My life circle was warped.
Big
Ideas I took away from my tech fast:
1.
I must make time
for more physical activity. Instead of a balanced wheel, I was bumping
along with work and spiritual parts poking out like arrows and the physical and
social part of my life was deflated to almost flat. These past few days taught
me I have slipped back into those old ways without even realizing it. Although,
I prided myself on minimizing, pride goeth before
destruction I've read.
2.
Priorities:
God has given me a gift of time so I must be a good steward of it. My favorite
quote from Understanding Evangelical
Media is what I posted in class chat last night in that “The ultimate test of Christians’
use of media is applied faithfulness” (Schultze & Woods, 2008, p. 28). This
will be part of my technology plan. I will always try to please God with
my use of media and technology. I have tried to do that with nixing certain TV
shows and movies because of content, but it isn’t enough when I should be
making sure my Wheel of Life rolls smoothly rather than bumpily.
3.
Habits: I
have heard since high school the “bad” effects of watching too much television,
and McKibben points out McLuhan’s point that we watch TV out of habit
rather than to see something specific. Over the years I have cut out of TV
watching that kind of habit, but I’ve noticed this week that I have a habit of
watching TV to wind down so that I can sleep. I have not yet decided if that is
bad or good. A friend pointed out that “technology could be a good ‘break’ and
used to refresh and relax” (Amber
Ellsworth, personal communication, March 7, 2013). I do commit to praying about
this over the next few weeks for God to give me insight in what He would have
me do about my technology habits.
4.
Nicholas Carr (“Google Makes Us Stupid”, and The Shallows) designed an innovation of
technology which I have found interesting (posted above). The pyramid shape is like Maslow’s
needs pyramid. I think the Technologies of the Self should go right above
Technologies of Social Organization and add in work skills to support self.
Then Technologies of
Leisure should go on top which would include Internet, television, radio,
sports technologies, etc. if we are to have a well-ordered and balanced life.
Here's the key: If we are worldly, then self does become priority. When we are Believers in Christ, we get our identity from Him. What do you think?
McKibben, B. (2006). The age of missing information. New York: Random House.
Schultze, Q. J. & Woods, R. H. (2008). Understanding Evangelical Media. Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity.
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