A Megabyte for Thought

Today I was talking to some coworkers about how quickly technology has advanced in the last few decades. The National Women’s Department got its first computer in 1990 and the entire department had to share the one machine. (Can you imagine?) And if you consider the last 150 years, the changes are almost staggering. From the time of creation to just a few hundred years ago, people traveled by foot, animal, or boat—not automobile or aircraft crossing oceans. Most people ate what was grown in their area—not the international fare we are accustomed to today. Even books were costly and in some places rare. And communication was always face-to-face or carried by hand from one person to another—not instantaneous media and personal computers.

For example, a few Saturdays ago I was sitting in my home office looking at Facebook when a message was posted from my friend JoVonda who is a missionary living in Greystone, Ireland. As I was reading her post, another friend, Pam (a missionary living in Cairo, Egypt) sent me an instant message and we began to chat. A few minutes into my chat with Pam, my son who is Argentina Skyped me. (Of course I had to let Pam go, since I’m not talented enough to use Facebook chat and Skype at the same time. I think you have to be younger than 30 to be able to multitask like that.)

Just think about that . . . Sitting in my pajamas in Wichita, Kansas on a laid back Saturday morning, I was able to communicate with friends and family on three different continents within just a few minutes. That is really incredible! Just a few decades ago it would have taken months to get letters to those places, and the privilege of a real conversation would have cost more than we’d be able to spend. Now, for the cost of internet, computer, and a Web cam, I can actually see my son in Argentina and talk with him virtually “face-to-face.” We live in such an amazing time in history!

I want to be careful to never take for granted (or be overwhelmed/distracted by) the technology advances and opportunities at my fingertips. Instead I want to be thankful for the significant time in which we live, unlike any other period in history. We weren’t born into the “information age” by happenstance—it’s by God’s design. We’ve been placed in this crucial time for a reason, and each of us has a purpose. This challenges me to use technology to advance God’s kingdom—to take every opportunity I have to be an agent of God’s grace and love in this world.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is” (Ephesians 5:15-17, NIV).