God makes
everything beautiful in its time. This is what the Bible tells us. I wouldn’t
agree more to the truth of those words when I see the new technology that has
come in. We have a variety of gadgets all over the world. Some are touch
screens, some wireless, still some are priceless. These tools assist us with so
much. They make work easier. Communication is at the tip of our fingers to a
people who are 20,000 kilometers or 24 hours away. But something priceless happened
to me when my phone and I pad went off.
I am Steven.
I have the highest level of accounting qualification. I have one of the best jobs and you know what
I mean when I say that. My bank account gets me whatever I want. I have all
types of technological gadgets. I get one whenever I want to. I am one of the
first to have the new release of any type, Blackberry, iphone, Samsung Galaxy and
you can mention it. My life is so busy and I don’t know what I would do without
these gadgets. I didn’t realize what would hit me when my phone and ipad would
go off.
With the
help of technology I talk to my family on facebook and watsapp using my ipad
and iphone. I don’t have time to see them face to face. My work is too busy. Whenever
I get home I am so tired and everyone is already fast asleep. But one day my
phone and Ipad went off.
I don’t have
to worry about Church or any Church activity. I can download sermons with my
ipad. I will see the photos on facebook of which people were present. Sometimes
when the Pastor is preaching I can attend to my watsapp messages and visit
facebook sites without hesitation. After all I can listen to it later. It’s
recorded. But one day my phone and ipad went off.
My closest
relationships, the relations with those people I love the most are not a
bother. When I am with them I don’t bother to spend time and listen to them
speak and have real meaningful fellowship. You know why? I can catch up with
them on skype. I don’t have to bother to visit them. And when they say they
want to come home sometime in the year, I simply say, “or we can do a video
conference?” But one day, my phone and I pad went off.
When my
gadgets went off, I went home and found my brothers and Sisters in the lounge. I
joined in the conversation. We talked and laughed. The humor, facial expression
and gestures which I rarely notice were visible. The way my young Sister laughs
made me realize that we have the same Father. You can rarely tell such
wonderful life experiences when all you see is “Lol, lolest and rotfl” on
your phone. I thought to myself, “this is awesome. ” In fact I got into a very intimate
conversation with my Sister and I was so disturbed when she got up almost every
other minute to respond to her facebook notifications and watsapp alerts. On
Sunday I went to Church. Yes, when my phone and Ipad went off. I sat on the pew
and the song leader led us into a hymn. For the first time after years of
emotional absence I sang the song with insight and my soul was revived. The coordination
of the voices as the choir sang made me taste heaven. And when the Pastor
brought the sermon to our ears, it was like ice on the cake. After all, I had
no messages to respond to or to worry about.
You see, I
realized when my gadgets went off that I was being self centered. Without
noticing I became an island. I wanted attention but didn’t give others the
attention they deserved. I wanted God to listen to me when I pray but I wasn’t ready
to give him my all in my devotions and Church participation. You know why? It’s
because my phone and I pad took all the energies. I almost lost touch with my
God, friends and all those who mean so much to me. Unfortunately, many are
still living in it. God brought me back to reality and I will not make my phone
and ipad my idol. I will discipline my
body and bring it under subjection, lest when I preach to others I myself
should be disqualified.