14th March 2025
Life-enhancing tools
Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
2 Corinthians 10:6 (MSG)
An art-loving friend of mine was remarking on the number of people she has seen at exhibitions who just stand in front of each painting and take a pic on their phone. All they are getting is a record of where they have been, she lamented. They’re missing experiencing the painting itself, by not taking the time to stand quietly in front of it, to drink in what it has to say to them, and to have their lives enhanced by it.
Just after this conversation, I noticed a review for a new book called The Extinction of Experience.1 In it, the author writes about our loss when experience is mediated through technology. When our heads are in our smartphones we do not engage our senses with the world. Our technological world brings us great benefits but it can also enslave us. The author points out that it can stop us from appreciating ‘the sights, sounds and sensations that make us feel human’. More than that, it can act as a barrier to the deepening of our relationships.
Just to be silly for a moment, imagine that as Mary encountered the risen Jesus at the empty tomb she whipped out her phone and sent the pic to the disciples in the upper room, who said ‘fake news’ and promptly deleted it, only later to get their phones out and take ‘Jesus eating fish’, or later, by the Sea of Galilee, ‘Jesus barbecuing by the lake’. I know, it’s a ridiculous idea, but you can see that it would have resulted in distracting them away from the profound and life-changing face-to-face encounters with the risen Christ, experiences that would support them throughout the challenges of their calling to bring the gospel to an often hostile world.
Technological tools that are now part of our daily lives, can better our lives, or be a barrier to experiencing the life-enhancing things of our world. But God has given us tools that will never get in the way, or detract – rather they will enable us to deepen our relationships with him. They’ve always been around and they cost us nothing; we never need to update them to the new model as the old is out of date. These tools are so simple, yet the best – such as prayer, study of his word, meditation and worship – unchanging tools that are a God-given part of our Christian lives that will enable us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.
Prayer
Father, thank you for ever being with us, and for the simple tools you have given us to help us connect with you, to learn about you, and that enrich our relationships with you, as we journey through life. Amen.
1 Christine Rosen The Extinction of Experience, Reclaiming Our Humanity in a Digital World, Vintage Publishing, January 2025
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Study by: Hilary Buck About the author: |
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Local congregation:
Grace Communion in Lewes
The House of Friendship
208 High Street
Lewes
BN7 2NS
Meeting time:
Sunday 11:00 am
Local congregational contact:
Hilary Buck
Email: lewes@gracecom.church
Like us on www.facebook.com/Grace Communion Lewes
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church