God Ain't Your PVR
Apparently, we are just a bunch of control-freaks.
As an educator, I am asked to be flexible in my content delivery because students want control on when they receive their information and how they desire to interact with it (therefore, if some kid wakes up at 4 a.m., my classroom should be virtually accessible somehow). Zoom out, and our society is constantly trying to customize its experience, everything from ordering your McDonald's meal from the digital kiosk (to make your Big Mac "unique") to personalizing your cellphone with its case, settings, ring tone and screen saver. Millennials who are getting married and popping out children are pressured to make sure their events "epic" and "Instagram-worthy". Weddings have to standout from the girl next door (how dare we have the same photographer). The birthing experience has to be picturesque, serene and perfect. And the spelling of a kid's name should snag a domain. Forget "Jane" when you can spell it like this: Jaiynne.
I must add a disclaimer. I am not advocating automaton behaviour, where we walk around like drones all wearing the same drab uniform. However, neither do I desire our inevitable destination, where the individual and his/her/zir rights are paramount. Apparently, we are to forget the community and be overly concerned about oneself.
I wonder, is our technological advances a result of our society's desire to elevate our individually over the community? Or has our current technological trends pushed society to the next level of individual customization?
Just think about. Gone are the staff room pots of coffee whose aroma would draw teachers to collegial dialogue prior to the day's activities. Instead, Keurig has arrived, with its single cup portions which a person rapidly creates and whisks off to the classroom to enjoy alone. What about this: no more accidental conversations are had on a family's landline, where you end up talking with your nephew on route to speak with your sister. Now? Just text your sister. If you have time, text your nephew. That is, IF. And what about waiting all week for your favourite show and making it an event to watch with your loved ones on the lone T.V. in the basement? Forget about it! PVR it. Or better yet, grab in NOW on Netflix, on your own device, in your own corner of your house.
Let's get spiritual now. How does the shift from community to individual impact our view of God? Are we trying to manipulate God to conform to our own image of what He should be like? Are we treating the Creator of the Universe like our PVR, desiring Him to obey our requests, fast forward our pain, and pause pleasure? And when He doesn't measure up to what we think He should be, do we just delete the show and move on to something more entertaining?
Let's hope not.
As an educator, I am asked to be flexible in my content delivery because students want control on when they receive their information and how they desire to interact with it (therefore, if some kid wakes up at 4 a.m., my classroom should be virtually accessible somehow). Zoom out, and our society is constantly trying to customize its experience, everything from ordering your McDonald's meal from the digital kiosk (to make your Big Mac "unique") to personalizing your cellphone with its case, settings, ring tone and screen saver. Millennials who are getting married and popping out children are pressured to make sure their events "epic" and "Instagram-worthy". Weddings have to standout from the girl next door (how dare we have the same photographer). The birthing experience has to be picturesque, serene and perfect. And the spelling of a kid's name should snag a domain. Forget "Jane" when you can spell it like this: Jaiynne.
I must add a disclaimer. I am not advocating automaton behaviour, where we walk around like drones all wearing the same drab uniform. However, neither do I desire our inevitable destination, where the individual and his/her/zir rights are paramount. Apparently, we are to forget the community and be overly concerned about oneself.
I wonder, is our technological advances a result of our society's desire to elevate our individually over the community? Or has our current technological trends pushed society to the next level of individual customization?
Just think about. Gone are the staff room pots of coffee whose aroma would draw teachers to collegial dialogue prior to the day's activities. Instead, Keurig has arrived, with its single cup portions which a person rapidly creates and whisks off to the classroom to enjoy alone. What about this: no more accidental conversations are had on a family's landline, where you end up talking with your nephew on route to speak with your sister. Now? Just text your sister. If you have time, text your nephew. That is, IF. And what about waiting all week for your favourite show and making it an event to watch with your loved ones on the lone T.V. in the basement? Forget about it! PVR it. Or better yet, grab in NOW on Netflix, on your own device, in your own corner of your house.
Let's get spiritual now. How does the shift from community to individual impact our view of God? Are we trying to manipulate God to conform to our own image of what He should be like? Are we treating the Creator of the Universe like our PVR, desiring Him to obey our requests, fast forward our pain, and pause pleasure? And when He doesn't measure up to what we think He should be, do we just delete the show and move on to something more entertaining?
Let's hope not.