In 2019 people were talking a lot about the “breakdown of our society” resulting from our increased utilization of and dependence on technology. We started to realize the damage that is being done to our children who have grown up using smart phones, internet and social media and the results of using these devices being decreased connection to themselves, other people and the world around them. But how could that be? We are all so connected now right? So connected by the internet that business and travel gets us around the globe in a day. So connected that a bat in China caused the word-wide epidemic that is now plaguing every country around the world. Technology really has brought us closer together, at least in proximity, however, has it really connected us on the human level? Nothing like a pandemic to demonstrate where we are in terms of brotherhood and being relational.
The truth is we are struggling…and we are scared. We are hearing the news and radio say things like “we are all alone in this together” and “calm down, don’t buy all of the toilet paper” or “be nice to your neighbor today, they are going through this too.” There is fear in the air when you go to the grocery store or walk down the street. I was taking a run the other day and I realized that I actually held my breath as a child rode by me on his bike in a non-socially distanced kind of way. I nodded my head to say hi but what I was really thinking was, “out of my breathing area
with your petri-dish of germs please”. A friend of ours stopped by to say hello the other day and in objection to social distancing and the fact that I have had a cough since this whole thing began, gave me a hug, which was a beautiful gesture…and then I’m washing my hands with scalding water just few minutes later.
My point is, as a society we were already dangerously disconnected. So connected by social media and technology, that we were actually disconnected. Now we are not only disconnected because of our tech dependent lifestyles, but we have added fear and panic to the recipe. I believe this is a dangerous combination. I also believe this is a huge opportunity…
Check back tomorrow Monday 4/6/2020 for the first of an 8 week series…