You’ve probably heard the line before, “They don’t have a prayer.” It’s the line people use when they don’t want to use the word “chance.” It seems to me that not having a prayer is actually worse than not having a chance! This week we’ll be addressing a difficult contemporary issue. We’ll be considering the distractions of technology from a life of meaningful connections. There have always been distractions from the life of God with God but it does seem like technological advancements have made the problem worse. Don Pearson is a pastor at Blythfield Hills Baptist, he wrote a little book titled “iParent.” He wrote, “Technological advancements do not correct or redeem moral poverty—actually, technology organizes, distributes and increases our poverty.” So, “do we have a prayer” in this avalanche of technology? We’ll have some tips and tools for you on Sunday but here is a prayer from William Fitzgerald quoted by Dr. Christina Sine in “Sacred Rhythms.”
"O God, make my tools of technology into instruments of your peace today.May my cell phone connect me to blessings but disconnect me from trivia.May my automobile move me to safety, past road rage and road rush.May my email enrich me with connectedness but also give me wisdom to empty the trash.May the internet open up the world to me but not snare me into addictions.Through sights, sounds, movements and competition move my spirit on angels’ wings.When the day is done, may I come home again out of stress and into peace and joy."
Being distracted while driving a car is one danger of technology but being distracted from God and from people because we are glued to a screen is also dangerous. We can become very one dimensional people that were designed to live in 3-D. The good news is, we have more than a prayer; we have the Word, the Spirit and the Body to help us live fuller, richer, more flourishing lives than all our technology can ever provide.