I wish my memory worked differently. I’d like to be able to conjure up an accurate image of my consciousness from, say, 25 years ago. You know what 25 years means: No cellphones, no e-mail, no Internet, no social networking (except with an actual drink in hand), and only the most primitive of personal computers. What I want to answer is a single question: Was I as addicted to the future then as I seem to be now?
It’s a little off-topic, but the author’s comment about not really remembering what it was like 25 years ago without e-mail and blogs and RSS feeds etc. resonates with me. Only I find it hard to remember even 7-9 years ago, or less!
Due to my work overseas, I was actually a VERY early user of e-mail and electronic forums or bulletin boards set up by our mission agency (anyone remember FidoNet?) as early as 1992.
However we didn’t have real access to the internet here until 2001 and I didn’t have a cell phone here in Africa or the U.S. until 1999. And now I can’t imagine NOT having a cell phone or the internet.
For instance: we had a security-related crisis in our city in Africa on Saturday evening. It was essential to be able to contact colleagues scattered around the city and the country by cell phone and SMS. Then I went to my home where I was likely to be much safer, and was able to connect to the internet and send out many crucial e-mails by virtue of a USB wireless modem that connects to the local cell phone network – an amazing gizmo our team has only had for about 6 months. Our office would not have been a safe place for me on Sat. night. It was such a blessing to be able to be connected from my home. Being connected to the internet from home is something we in the U.S. take for granted now. But my “home” here is basically akin to a cinder block garage. Two 8 X 10 rooms. We’ve only had electricity since April. No plumbing. Outdoor latrine. You can imagine why it seems pretty miraculous to be able to connect to the whole world in such a setting using my laptop… and yet already I am taking it for granted.
Lord help me and us to use this technology wisely and for Your glory. Help us to not let it rule us or distract us from You. Help us to be thankful and be eager to find ways to use this amazing “connectedness” to build up Your Body and share You with many.
Maybe it says something about the significance of the event but I remember when we were taken to the computer lab as a group of faculty, in 1992 and shown how to use “email”. I remember this as well as the day President Kennedy was shot. At that time we shared a computer with about five other faculty members. Only the Dean of the graduate school had his own computer on his desk. Now most universities have a rotating computer replacement schedule for faculty. I would rather not have a TV than lose my computer internet connectivity. My computer is a portal to the rest of the world 24/7.