Technology today is far from what it used to be back in the day. I remember when it was just cool to have e-mail. Now we have Twitter, Facebook and all these other social networking sites that help us keep connected. I’ve been realizing lately that my generation is totally into the whole “being-connected” thing. Which is pretty awesome and fine if you ask me.. But only if we remember what being connected is really all about. What’s the point of being connected if there is no purpose? The biggest thing lately is the iPhone. Along with other Apple products like macbooks, iPADs.. you get the picture. It’s like WOW! You got all these cool apps and the cool features and such. It’s just amazingg.. it can keep you connected anywhere and everywhere you go! And if you’re bored, you got an app for it! It’s like you have the whole world literally in the palm of your hand.
Aahhhh.. Facebook. A genius creation of which people are able to keep connected. You can pretty much find people that you graduated with 10 years ago and get reconnected. People love Facebook for the same reason they love the iPhone and all those other Apple products — the joy of being connected. It’s not just enough to send an email, call, or text anymore. It’s about the pictures of the kids, the fun surveys, the games like Farmville, Frontierville, Yoville, and all those other “Villes.” It’s like a voice in your head that keeps saying, “Connection, connection, connection.” You can’t stop. You have to know who’s who and what’s what. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing… it’s pretty awesome if you ask me.
((Now here’s where I’ll be steppin on some toes… stop reading here if you don’t want an ouchie)) Now I personally enjoy all these things as well. I like being connected. I mean, I don’t have an iPOD or iPhone (but that’s beside my point… I know people who do). But my point is “connection.” Connection can be a good thing… then again, it could be a bad thing too… I know, no ouchie here… yet. But allow me to explain.
You see, society is getting to the point where people have to stay in touch and be connected all the time. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen kids, workers, saints, and even ministers on their phones during a service. It makes me cringe to watch people post statuses on Facebook and Twitter during a revival service. It’s all the “wow” factor. They’re somehow infatuated with the thought, “Wow, I can take my whole social circle with me wherever I go!”
It’s like a bad Starbucks addiction. It’s good, but so costly. You may be updating your status while missing the perfect opportunity to witness to someone. When’s the last time you took your Starbucks money and bought someone else a coffee from Starbucks? What is the last app you just downloaded onto your iPhone to stay connected? How much did it cost? (any ‘ouches’ yet?) When’s the last time you put all that stuff away, and disconnected to the mainstream of our culture and got connected to the main SOURCE? I’m not saying that iPhones and Facebook and all that is evil. What I’m saying is what is your purpose in using it? Why be wasteful of precious time that could be used for the glory of God?
What I’m saying is that life is not about the newest fad. Life is about being connected to the One who matters most and using that energy towards others. I cannot and will not apologize for what I’ve written. It’s been on my heart so much lately, I can only pray that you understand what I am trying to convey. God’s been dealing with me on this same subject in my life. And I can only head to what He is saying to me personally. I hope you will, too.
