Monday Meditation – Technology 11/14/2022

I like technology. So many wonderful things have been invented that make our lives easier – I find my smartphone and my computer to be invaluable. And all the applications that exist to make it easy for you to shop, order food and keep track of your business. Amazing!

For me, a prime example of how technology has blessed me is this weekly blog post. I use my computer and my Word program when I am writing. I use the Facebook app to post the blog, and the MailChimp app to mail it out to those who do not use Facebook. I even have a website, using another application. And Google is one of my dearest friends – I can research Bible quotes, song lyrics, quotations and more to include in my posts.

Yet technology can be very frustrating. A year and a half ago the hard drive on my computer crashed, and I lost a lot of data. I did have a backup drive, but my backup was several months old, so I couldn’t easily recover my data. I was able to go back to old emails and recover things I had sent out or things that had been sent to me, and I was able to copy off older blog posts from my website to recreate my cumulative blog file. But it has been a time-consuming process, and not one that I relish ever tackling again. One solution: I bought a new external drive and am backing up my data once a month now!

Technology can also NOT be a good thing. I enjoy playing some games on my phone, and I periodically scroll through Facebook posts as a distraction. But I have caught myself spending way too much time on these things. When I get pulled into some of these apps I find I don’t always have enough time for more important tasks. I may have to stay up late to finish a report. Spending too much time on apps can also isolate me from others… I neglect to call that friend or visit with a neighbor. So I must consciously limit my time with these apps. And we have all heard about harmful apps and scams using technology that are very hurtful to many people, so we have to be careful with what apps we use and the data we access.

To me, technology is still a good thing, but I need to be diligent in using it. I must be careful with the information I access and use, and I need to be cognizant of the time I spend using certain technology. I must remember that non-technology things are also important… things like prayer, reading and time spent with others. A proper balance is key.

This week I encourage you to look at how you use technology. Are you careful with your data and do you have backups? Do you limit your time with “distraction apps” and find enough time for prayer and interacting with others? Technology can be a blessing, but also a curse, so make sure you are wise in its use.

Have a blessed Monday!

Faye

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