The last few weeks I come back to this page and then off
I go looking around at others blogs, web pages and try to see similar threads
and areas that I can see pursuing. What really could become the meaning behind
this blog that I have wanted to find the right avenue to head down before going
further? Some days I have felt compelled to start saying something but then
found I was stopping myself because I wasen’t quite there yet, quite ready to
jump into the conversation.
Then I got thinking about technology and what that means
in my life. The connection that it has to those I am closest with and those who
I attend theological school with each week. My school days are limited but my
interactions with those who I attend school with continue on into evenings and
weekends. Sometimes more than one of us shares in the conversation and none of
us live close, some are hour long train rides away actually. Sometimes it is
just a quick hello or a word of encouragement after seeing a post one of them
might have shared on their Facebook page. Then I had one of those “a ha”
moments if I might call it that. Maybe small really but it caused me to take a
look a little deeper at the use of technology as a form of pastoral care,
reaching out to others. I realized when I sent those bbm’s (blackberry messages)
I was in fact connecting with a friend or family member who needed to connect
with someone who could stop, even for a brief moment and hear what was on their
mind. Maybe that really is the point. Face to face encounters can be wonderful
but sometimes time, circumstances, locations do not allow for that but it
shouldn’t mean that we cannot connect and it hasn’t stopped us.
When I actually began to really think of all those
important messages there were many actually.
·
Texts or emails asking for the support or
prayers when things weren’t going great for someone.
·
An update to share with me on how they were
doing.
·
Sharing thoughts on what to do for the next
worship service we are planning and what they are working on and what might we
resources we could share with each other to make both our lives a little easier
in the midst of all the craziness
·
Texting colleagues, family members who live
abroad, or friends to give an update about the circumstances of a sick person
close to both of us
·
Just a text to say how much you missed them
the other day
I guess you could call it an impersonal form of contact
but ultimately, it is contact. Contact is all about love, concern and
faithfulness to those whom we are joined together with in community. A
community built around relationships, so why not here!
I think technology is great but we must not get lost in it. Utilizing it to text and email colleagues for updates, asking for support, etc is one thing. The voice on the other end of a phone is important. BUT nothing can replace a face with a warm smile, an embracing hug, and a small touch or holding of ones hand. For a moment lets think...if I am in pain, or hurting would I want a cold text. I am sorry...contact can not be replaced and demoralized to an impersonal form. Our hearts and souls grief for the human touch and comfort in our times of need.
ReplyDeleteI do not disagree with you. However, there are times when we are not able to be in physical contact with others. Technology certainly cannot replace human contact but it can at the very least be contact when that is all that is possible in that moment. It is also a way of opening up to someone if you are uncomfortable with face to face. It may be the door that opens up other possibilities.
ReplyDeleteI guess you talk of many different needs. Yes it may be the door that opens up other possibilities but yet I witness more than I would like and again on Monday night how a text, not a phone call and/or visits from clergy, church members, and family is received. Just saying. We all live busy lifes. If technology is the route the church choices to take then it's member need to be informed of such so they are can make the decision if this is the church for them.
ReplyDeleteSandra,
ReplyDeleteBy no means am I suggesting that technology should ever replace the physical contact that we can have with others. The point of my original post was to offer an alternative to those who may not want to stay after church for a face to face chat or even feel comfortable with a minister phoning them. Some people feel more comfortable with email because they can take time to put together what they want to say and even revise it before sending it. Or for someone who would love to get into dialogue with others about a chosen topic but do not like to be put on the spot about what they think. With email and blogging they can remain in the safety of their own surroundings while joining in on a conversation. Again, nothing can replace relationships that bring people together but who knows maybe this can be the starting place for someone who would be too shy to start the relationship in the first place.
So long as it not relied on too much. It is too easy to escape with technology and not deal with the matters at hand. People are hiding in their homes behind computers rather than interacting face to face. How can you properly minister to someone as an individual when you can not see the real pain or doubt in their eyes, or their reaction. Very few people can express themselves in print very well and many will not open up in a forum that is so open. I personally would never speak of my personal pains, needs, loses or doubts, over a text or computer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-computer, I can’t live without mine. Ministering, doctoring, consoling and counseling are not things that should be done over a computer. Just my two cents…. I’ll go back in the corner now. lol
ReplyDelete