On Technology
We can and should push against the current.
On this particular quiet, frigid, winter morning, I wonder, “How far are we willing to go?”
Will the siren songs of Convenience1 entice us to forsake the communal responsibility to our neighbors and ourselves?
Will the insatiable appetite of Consumerism urge us to greedily devour product after product, gripping our imagination and wasting away resources?
Will the gods of Social Media lure us into superficial, algorithmic relationships fueled by anger and resentment whereby we abandon any meaningful social equity for the hope of efficient connection?
Will the empty promises of Artificial Intelligence lull us into a slumbering trance in which we can no longer recognize beauty, wisdom, and strength?2
Will Mammon’s beckoning mesmerize us, leading across an ethical line in the snow by which the value of technology is viewed solely through the lenses of profit and productivity?3
Or,
Will we be in tune to the Spirit of Wisdom as she guides us with discernment to cautiously employ technological tools in the divine calling to create, rule, and love - to be fully human?
When the frigid morning fades to colorful dusk, where will we find ourselves?
Will we find ourselves ensnared by our devices or captivated by the Maker?
This is my question.
-BJH | May His Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven
I choose to give these intoxicating powers proper names to remind myself of their formidable grip over us and our formation (or de-formation) as humans and the world, and their potent ability to control our lives.
This wonderful article expresses how a frictionless life is devoid of meaning. Second, this article explains that we should not be afraid of Artificial Intelligence’s dominant rise, but of humanity’s willingness to hand over our agency to Artificial Intelligence. I did a DEEP dive this fall/winter if you’re interested in more reading…
Here is a phenomenal song by Jon Guerra regarding treasure.
This framing around naming these forces is sharp. The intentionality behind capitalizing Convenience, Consumerism, etc treats them as what they are - actual powers with agency over our lives. Ive noticed how hard it is to resist convenience especially, since its marketed as pure efficiency rather than the tradeoff it actually is. The friction piece resonates alot; removing all friction from life also removes opportunities for growth and reflection.