Strive for What We Were Made For

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It seems like so many people talk about how bad technology can be for your brain, eyes, posture, hands, to-do list, and even spiritual life. Certainly, there are things to help with these downsides, but all the same they are made for us not us for them. Technology is great, it can make us adaptable, efficient, connected, etc. However, we must remember it is a tool to serve a higher purpose. In a digital age, we must be intentional about unplugging of our “beloved” devices if we are to experience life to the full. More often than not, the very thing that we use to fix problems causes the new primary problem. We were made for communion but that of love and not of corruption.

We are made for human interaction. Sometimes, technology augments this, allowing us to see each other while being many miles away. However, what we find it is actually doing is not only providing us a minimal substitute, but also making us more disconnected from each other. What social media does for us psychologically is reducing people to a message on a screen. Then are we jealous or disagree with what said person assert, instead of understanding where they are coming from, we deal in the genetic fallacy. But what is more important the person or the assertion? That because [x person] believes [y proposition to be true], and I despise the idea that some would believe [y proposition to be true] or do [z action], I shall therefore despise said person because they are the type of person that would believe [y proposition to be true] or do [z action]. Thereby, we not only imagine that repentance from z and y is not possible for x, but also that they wholeheartedly and unfailingly believe y to be the absolute truth, z to be the ideal action, that we have an in-depth and complete understanding of the intent and context of z and y. Now to summarize, we equate x person’s dignity and value to what we understand to be the nature of believing y and doing z to be. If we were to see and know the mystery, and/or to be known and seen according to the nature we were made for (and not the one technology creates for us), then our disagreements would be more civil, our quirks more reasonable, and thereby mercy would seem much more give-able. This forms the “new prejudice” which society wishes to replace the old prejudice with.

In conclusion, now that we have discussed that inauthentic encounters (inconsistent with the dignity of persons) with others are detrimental to our good and that of others, let us look into what entails authentic encounter. Relationship require not just dialog but effective communication. If we fail in being through in defining exactly what we mean to say and/or portray to others, we allow the enemy the opportunity to whisper lies into the depths of the hearts of those we would love, and do we not speak what we believe? We are called to “love the lord [our] God with all [our being]"(Matthew 22:37, Deuteronomy 6:5). Care for the created is to love the Creator. If we let the enemy inform how we see others, we give the enemy control of our world view. If we let other give the enemy their world view, they will not be open to the love we would give them. If both are given to the enemy, no one who would like to love can give it and even should they no one would be open to it. Remember that all are afflicted by corruption and the effects of sin and often corruption because of the effects of sin, and even though evil has no excuse, refusing to love is evil and not allowing others to love you perpetuates the problem. Let others love you the best they can and forgive their inability. Love others the best you can and ask for the forgiveness in your in ability. When we are offended it is essential to be conscious of the truth spoken to be brought to prayer, the person to be loved, and the lies to be forgotten.

JOHN DONNE:
Batter my heart, three-personed God; for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o’erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new
I, like an usurpt town to’another due,
Labor to’admit you , but oh, to no end,
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly’I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betrothed unto your enemy:
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I
Except you’enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
Written by Carter Carruthers
I am a created entity, not a person.

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