Technology is Great! BUT ....

I hurried into Chicago yesterday for an appointment. I hurried home after that appointment to make sure I was present in Genoa for another appointment. I hurried today to go to the church after telephone appointments this morning. I hurried to DeKalb for an appointment with a colleague this afternoon. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

What did we used to do? What was life like before cell phones, the internet, and all the other ways we have become constantly available to one another?

As I was thinking about that very question, I struck me that we were actually more available to one another before the days of constant availability.

Don't get me wrong, I like the level of availability afforded to us today with all the advances in technology. I like being able to conduct business through a conference call and email. I like being able to video conference with folks from around the country and even from around the world. I like the availability technology provides us. I don't like how "unavailable" we have become.

When I was trained as a hospital chaplain, one of the most important lessons taught, and still taught, is about being available. It's not just about showing up when paged or visiting in the hospital room, clinical setting, or the like. Rather being available is about being aware of what's going on with ourselves enough to "quiet the voices" in our minds and hearts which distract us. It's about knowing that when the person speaking to us, telling us something deep and moving from their heart, we are listening fully rather than listening to them in appearance while writing our grocery list in our heads or worrying about our own concerns.

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! I think, has made us less available -- truly available -- to one another. I think it's a wise idea that cell phones and similar devises are turned off and put away during meal times. I think it's a good idea to let things set sometimes -- We don't have to respond to text messages and email immediately. We don't even have to respond to voice mail immediately!

We've become to "immediate" with our communication and availability, we have forgotten what I think is most important to communication -- being available in mind/body, and soul to those seeking a little of our time.

I hear the generation ahead of me confounded by the amount of texting and the like the generations after me do. Will the day actually appear that folks "go to church" by logging onto a website? It might. Will pastoral care be provided through email and online chat rooms? It already is!

The nature and place of ministry is rapidly changing along with the manner in which we communicate with one another. Yet, being fully available is the key to all of this.

I don't mind that the younger generations text, blog, and all that. I just hope we are also teaching them the value of true availability so that they can continue the work of compassion started by Jesus, continued through centuries by Jesus, and lived out by Faith Church now can continue with vigor and vitality. Technology is great! BUT nothing can replace a friend, a pastor, even a stranger, being fully present with us and to us, listening with every ounce of their being, to the joy or the pain we need to share. Technology which does this -- allows me to be fully present, fully available -- when there is a need .. this is what makes technology great (although being able to pull up the movies playing three towns over 'cause I don't like the ones playing here is good too -- but I'll still take a person who listens with compassion over a machine.)