STORY ONE: I was having a conversation with our youngest daughter several years ago and I casually used the word 'typewriter' in the sentence. She straightforwardly and honestly asked: "What's a typewriter?"
??????????
"What's a typewriter? Seriously?"
"Yeah, Dad -- what's a typewriter?"
STORY TWO:
Our grandson, Elias, turned one less than 2 weeks ago (see August 13th blog) and we discovered he has this uncanny ability to pick up an iphone and slide the 'lock' button to the right to UNlock the phone. He is innately drawn to computers and other electronic-type devices - uncannily drawn to them.
F. Scott Fitzgerald writes in his story, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," about the birth of a child named Benjamin Button who shockingly appears in mind and body to be a 70 year old man at birth (pictured above). He is fully grown, gray-haired and wrinkled. He possesses the wisdom and knowledge of a man in his later life. His parents, though at first struck with the dread of the situation, soon become acclimated to their son's condition. Over time, however, they discover something even more disturbing. He is aging -- in reverse. By the time he reaches his 18th birthday, he appears to be a man of 50. He stands taller; his skin is smoother; his hair browner. Eventually, Benjamin marries and has children, who in turn have children of their own. By the team he reaches his late 60s chronologically, he has the appearance and intellect of a toddler who is fast approaching infancy. Even more striking, Benjamin's very own grandchildren have passed him in their knowledge and ability to navigate the world. As they approach kindergarten and school, he is babbling like a baby.
The story is, of course, pure fantasy - thank goodness - and yet, it is an eerie parable of the age we live in.
I am alternately enamored and terrified by the savvy with which our kids - and grandchild - are able to navigate the latest technology. To many adults, the digital world is practically a foreign country where they are undocumented immigrants while their children serve as translators. I'll never forget watching the 4-year old stand on a stool in our church lobby and navigate the keyboard to 'check herself in' at the Children's Ministry Registration Kiosk.
This kind of shift marks the first time in history that parents have limited access to the world of their own children. Life has inverted. Adults are disappearing and children hold the power. Never before have children been able to lock parents out of more than their rooms. It appears adults are getting younger, but not in the way they have hoped for.
How can we REDEEM this fact and use it for the Kingdom so we don't lose a generation to the world -- but monopolize on what they love and are attracted to so the Kingdom can increase? If we manage it, then Christianity has a guaranteed future on this planet. If we don't ...
And be blessed.
5 comments:
I haven't given this an enormous amount of thought, but it is a bit scary. I have two little grandchildren, but their father majored in computer programming in college, so that helps.
When my kids were young, it was Nintendo, and I was amazed at their hand-eye coordination. Personally, I couldn't have cared less about those silly games. But, I thought it was great that they mastered it so well.
Computers are a whole other issue. The world is at our feet and that is amazing and wonderful. That does bring to mind...WHO do you believe? What is true and what is fiction? The world AND all of it's ideas and beliefs are right out there, influencing all of us. Let's hope we find voices that we can trust...as at KFA...and not fall for false prophets in the End Days.
PK...I know you can't predict the future, but do you believe the End is near?
PS...I think that you, P Jon and P Bob, in your blogs, are reaching out to people in a wonderful way. You have over a 1000 friends...you are awesome!
Just an aside....today would have been Mother Teresa's 100th birthday. She was such a beautiful spirit and deserves to be a saint.
The wonderful thing about this is that the Bible, for the most parts, refers to people 'living' as saints, not dead people. There are some exceptions, but the huge majority of references is that we who are born again are saints - not because of what we do so much, but because of who God has made us. Paul writes to the 'saints at Ephesus,' for instance - not dead people, but living, fragile people who sometimes fail. People don't 'deserve' to be saints once they get to heaven. We are a saint before we ever step foot there. Just a thought.
Hmmmm....my old Catholic influence is showing. :) She is one of the people I admire most. If one is rewarded in heaven based upon their works for God, then she must have a very lavish life....and can almost guarantee that she has a lot of people sharing her new home. :)
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