Mike Wise the amiable IT guru on CBC television and radio talked up taking what he calls a "media sabbath" this week. Even though he tells us every night about the latest gadgets, apps, and connections he admits that on Sundays he shuts down on virtually everything, including TV, so that he can give his full attention to his young family. Smart guy.
It seems to me that we have been convinced that never-ending connection should be the goal of our lives these days. More and more I have the feeling that the technology which allows us so many valuable tools for connection, including the internet bringing you this blog, also has the potential to distract, fragment, disconnect. We haven't learned to use what is available to us wisely and new opportunities are dangled before us constantly.
When I was in New Mexico I ate a meal in a Chinese restaurant and sat across from a couple in their thirties who were both texting away all during the meal. Part way through I realized they were texting each other! Now, we can only imagine what they were texting, but it struck me as the worst of technology that they couldn't have a face-to-face conversation when they were face-to-face.
It's interesting that Mike Wise uses a biblical term, sabbath, and the traditional Christian day of rest, Sunday, to describe making space for meaningful relationship time. This is probably a profoundly spiritual issue even though we don't realize it.
Could you disconnect for day each week? Does technology serve you, or are you in thrall to it?
1 comment:
OMG Dvd. U hit the nail on the head.
On our way to church a few Sundays ago I heard my wifes phone recieve a text. She smiled and sent a reply, then my daughters phone beeped, from the seat directly behind.
My 1st reaction is to point out the cost of texting, then the sillyness of doing it when they could easily talk to each other.
It is so not nessissary.
With the death of a friends daughter, and unborn grandchild, suspected of texting while driving this is a soar spot for me.
Next time you are texting someone while they are driving think about how you would feel if that was the last communication you ever had with that person...
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