The Spirituality of Technology

How we use technology, is entirely up to us.

Last weekend, I was out shopping with my hubby. Our son was out of town on a school trip. My cell phone began to blow up with texts. Many were from a remind service I had signed up for, telling me what was going on during my son’s trip. They were instructions like, “meet back at the bus at 7:00.” Some were from my mama who was visiting a friend in the hospital and the news was not good. Some were from my daughter and included pictures from her spring break beach trip. There was one from a friend that contained a funny meme.

All of the texts meant something to me. All of the texts were information that I wanted to know or were from people who I wanted to hear from, but I was shopping for something specific and I was feeling a little overwhelmed, when my phone buzzed again.

Of course I looked at it. Both of my children, though mostly grown, were in different states. My mama was at a hospital. There could be news that I really needed to know.

Isn’t it interesting how cell phones have made us always feel like we’re on the edge of an emergency? We feel like if we accidentally leave our phone on the table at home, for a quick grocery store trip, disaster will surely strike us. We might have a flat tire or get abducted or something horrible may befall a loved one.

How in the world did we survive before the late 1990’s?

Right or wrong, my phone buzzed and I dug it out of my purse. But, this time it was from a number I did not know and it made me catch my breath as I stopped and read it, giving it my full attention.

Just after Christmas, a dear faith friend of mine, who I had met on a mission trip, reached out to me asking me for prayer for his brother-in-law. He had developed a large brain bleed the day after Christmas. The doctors were having difficulty locating it and things didn’t look good. My friend rarely reaches out with prayer requests, so when he does, I know it’s something very important.

I immediately began praying for this man. He improved, thought very slowly. I continued to pray and every now and then I would ask an for an update. He was getting better. I hadn’t heard from him in quite a while when I received that text.

It was from his wife, thanking me and my family, for praying for her husband. She said that, “through prayers and the love and mercy of Jesus Christ, he had been released by the neurosurgeon and was doing great.”

My heart cheered for this woman who I had never met and I thanked God for her miracle.

Later, I marveled at the connection that believers have with one another. I thought about the wonder of technology and how it can be used for both good and bad. It can at times, enslave us, but it can knit us together too and it can help create an army of warriors who are willing to pray and prayer can make all the difference.

A text reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂