In a recent homily, Father Camillus Temba spoke of our society’s addiction to technology. He began by sharing a story about someone attending a spiritual retreat and asking, immediately upon arrival, for the facility’s Wi-Fi password. He was declined and told the only Wi-Fi needed for the retreat was a direct line to heaven.
Members of the congregation smiled knowingly. Recognizing the sad truth of technology addiction, I pricked up my ears. How distracted I can become by a connectedness to so many less-important things in life, while the most important, always-clear, password-free Connection sits in wait.
Upon further reflection, I note how technology, designed to save time and create ease of communication, has become an inescapable presence in our lives. Ironically, because we can communicate at all hours of the day, create documents, and access files using a device that fits neatly into a purse or pocket, we think we need to do these things. Technology doesn’t always save time or make life easier; it simply enables – even pressures – us to do more work and complicate our lives.
Time away from our jobs is not, as it should be, exclusively devoted to contact with family, caring for a home, and exercising. Instead, we interrupt the above pastimes in order to respond to “urgent” messages about everything from work to our kids’ sports teams to online banking. Rather than having shops closed during the evenings and on Sundays, we not only have access to extended hours in bricks-and-mortar shopping malls, but we order goods 24/7 online.
Leisure time is spent catching up with hundreds of our closest “friends” on social media, rather than reading a book, making a phone call, or having tea with a friend in real life. As a response to our increased lack of time with loved ones, Canadians have even set aside a day in February and called it “Family Day.” My mom has often stated that we used to have a “family day” every week; it was called “Sunday.”
Technology is a blessing, if used correctly. It keeps us in touch with people living far away. It allows us to book holidays and find recipes. It helps us to find our way in traffic and enables us to call for help if our cars break down.
Obsession with technology is a curse. We need time to allow our thoughts to develop without the influence of text messages, email, Google, and Instagram. We need to think for ourselves, communicate with those around us, and pray for discernment and peace from God.
Father Camillus reminded us that we all need time each day to talk to God. We also need to devote a minimum of one hour each week to worship without cell phones, computers, and cameras. He went on to challenge us to book appointments with God and honour them the way we honour the appointments added to our Google calendars for meetings, doctor’s appointments, and music lessons.
He encouraged people to pray each day, to go to adoration whenever possible, and to attend Mass each Sunday (or more often) to be nourished on the Word of God and the Eucharistic feast. “It’s like charging your phone,” he stated. “If you don’t charge your phone, it will die.”
I agree with Father Camillus. Technological devices are regarded by many as lifelines. They are our contacts with others, our photo albums, our maps, our directories, our dictionaries, and sometimes even our doctors. Online connection is not a need; in reality, it is simply a convenient answer to many wants.
Connection to God, on the other hand, is a genuine need. We must plug in to God to remove ourselves from the pressures of life – created by human nature and exacerbated by unceasing online activity. Go to church each week and make it family day. Go forth in union with others charged with a similar cord and, when in need of recharging our minds, souls, and bodies, spend some time alone with God in prayer.
I charge my phone at least once each day and give it a reboot once per week. If these habits are good enough for my phone, am I not worthy of similar care, myself? To live a healthy life, I must begin by prioritizing my connection to God.
