I have written before how our daughter moved states away. Our son lives in the same state with his family. I have been so grateful for modern technology. It s so wonderful to be able to talk to them. When my youngest granddaughter calls, it is always a video call. Did you know it is possible to play hide and seek with a 2 ½ year old by video chat? 😊 Not all that many years ago, communication was much more difficult. I have often thought how hard it must have been when early settlers went across the country, knowing they would not see or hear from loved ones left behind for months, even years at a time. Some dear missionary friends of ours, who are now with the Lord, used to tell us of times such as when one of their kids broke an arm and it was healed before they ever knew it happened. Their children were in school quite a distance from them, and communication was nothing like it is today.

Technology can be wonderful and not so wonderful. Someone stranded beside a road or with a medical emergency is thankful to be able to summon help quickly. However, at some point, most of us have tried to get someone’s attention who is buried into some device or other. When one considers what communication and transportation were like 100 years ago, and that is a short time frame considering the years of mankind, one can see a great advancement in technology. Yet, for all that advancement, in some ways we are worse off than before all of the modern inventions. People talked. Neighbors gathered to visit. Families ate together and conversed about each one’s day. In many homes today, IF the family eats together, it might be in front of a tv or with various one’s playing games on their phones, texting or checking messages. With all of our advances in communication, it seems we have lost some in the personal contact, eye to eye conversing.

I enjoy the advantages cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc. provide as much as anyone. Yet, I also enjoy heart to heart, eye to eye communication. Sometimes I wonder if in our fast pace society if we would be better off unplugging for awhile just to relearn things we have forgotten. We like being able to send a quick text to a friend or family member to tell them some bit of info, and not expect to be tied down in a long conversation.

Our relationship with God is often approached the same way as we send quick texts. We send quick bullet prayers when we need something, asking for help. But we don’t take time to spend reading the Bible and in prayer. Maybe we would like a close relationship, without investing the time. We do the same with people. We want a close relationship with people, but with a texting mentality. I don’t think texting quick messages to people or quick prayers are wrong. However, for close relationships, time is required. Honest communication is a must.
What if we unplugged from all the modern social media time consumers and did some “real” face time with people. We might be surprised what we learn. I am not saying to unplug forever, but for a predetermined time frame to see how things look different. Make it long enough to make you aware of what you are missing. It is amazing how much more time we have when we “unplug” from technology. Most importantly, we need to get back to that quiet time alone with our Savior. Nothing can replace that time and nothing is more important!