Reading
“And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NRSV)
Reflection
Have you ever thought about how “easy” we have it nowadays? In the modern era of convenience made possible by technology, our lives are technically easier than they’ve ever been. We can prepare food at the push of a button, travel across the country in less than a day, and catch up on events halfway around the world in real time. With all of these improvements, why doesn’t life feel “easier”?
With the introduction of technology into our homes in the 1950s, household appliance manufacturers promised we’d have more leisure time. The introduction of computers in the late 20th century promised we’d get our work done faster and have more time to ourselves. Social media promised we’d be more connected than ever before. But research does not bear any of this out.
Despite technological gains over the last century, we are busier, lonelier, and working harder than ever before. Rather than giving us the freedom to do more of what we love, we are tethered to work and the distractions of the outside world by the devices on our wrists, in our pockets, and now even on our faces (thanks Meta glasses).
On Sunday, I was struck by the irony of Pastor Brandon’s comment about monks from the Middle Ages lamenting distractions. They have nothing on us in the 21st century. For all of the improvements we have made in our lives with technology, we have backfilled our “saved time” with more work and mind-numbing distractions while short-circuiting many of the developmental processes needed to prepare us to be fully human.
- GPS has replaced the need for learning geography and navigation.
- Social media has replaced building relationships and being a good neighbor.
- Artificial Intelligence has replaced the need to wrestle with ideas and think for ourselves.
- Google has replaced the need to remember facts.
- Same-day delivery has replaced the need to develop patience.
- Streaming content has replaced daydreaming.
- Constant distraction has replaced boredom.
- Noise has replaced silence and solitude.
Part of human development is struggling up against something and then being formed by the experience. When we habitually avoid the struggle, we are missing opportunities to be formed into Christlikeness.
Following Jesus is the spiritual journey of becoming fully human—fully ourselves, made in the image of God. That process is called sanctification. It is the lifelong process of becoming holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).
But we can’t short-circuit the process. Every generation looks for quick-fixes and formulas. In the ancient world, shortcuts to righteousness looked like legalism, gnosticism, and works righteousness. Today, it looks like self-help, biohacking, habit-stacking, image management, and personal branding. Our methods have changed, but we still want transformation without the struggle.
Invitation
This week, as you spend time “landlining” your phone, I invite you to notice each time you feel compelled to seek out your phone. What part of the process of becoming fully human are you trying to short-circuit? What discomfort are you trying to avoid? Rather than running on auto-pilot, make a conscious choice to engage (or not) with the discomfort. Don’t let the convenience and distraction of technology keep you from becoming the person God created you to be.
Pray with me:
Holy and Loving God, I admit that I often choose convenience and distraction rather than wrestling with the discomforts in my life. Help me to sit with my feelings each time I feel the urge to pick up my phone. Help me to discern the right times to use technology to create more margin in my life, and when to choose the harder way. Let my discomforts and struggles be a lesson for those around me who are watching me and learning how to be human, too. Amen.
