Mastering Technology: Once again, my world is being rocked by Comer’s book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. In the part of the book where he discussed “Slow,” he gives 20 rules for slowing down. How crazy is this: he recommends sometimes choosing the longest checkout line to slow himself down, get off of the drug of speed, and give himself time to change mindsets so that by the time he gets to the cashier, he is in a different frame of mind and treats them like a soul and not an ATM. As a result of reading this morning, I have taken the following steps to master technology:
- Changed iPhone to grayscale (there are a lot of online articles about the tie between what happens at the biochemical level in our brains and how we get addicted; eliminating color helps)
- Deleted ALL EMAIL FROM MY PHONE!!! I am most excited about this. I constantly check my email, most of the time out of boredom, for anything exciting (e.g., online sales, eBay sell, application responses, etc.)
- I turned off almost all notifications, including badges, so that I have to actually open apps to see if there are any notifications
- I am not going to work my online job with my smartphone within reach
- All social media has been removed from my smartphone
Face the facts: Either you are mastering your technology or it is MASTERING YOU.
Could it be that our out-of-control, addictive/random/careless/consuming practice of grabbing our smartphone every time we are bored is one of the most unfaithful behaviors we perform on a day-to-day basis as Christians because it makes us less attentive to God, our own hearts, and others around us? The answer is, yes, especially when you consider that one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit is self-control.
Self-control. Jesus cares about it.
B.J. Condrey, Ph.D. 