by Mama Seay
We Patriots, like most of our generation, are pretty attached to our technology. In this Traffic Survey, Mama Seay reminds us that, though technology is now an important part of our lives, it can’t provide us with the wisdom to live well and use it wisely. That’s found somewhere else.
How do you keep your life balanced in the midst of electronic distractions? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section. ~ Lt. Gov. Nicholson
Traffic Survey: Introduction
My home is in Georgetown. My vocation is in the state Capitol. That is 30.5 miles of travel each way on one of the most congested freeways in the nation. Or, as I like to refer to it, an opportunity for a daily traffic survey. I have come to love my daily commute, as my vehicle often doubles as my prayer closet. This venue is to share some of the musings from my traffic surveys.
Wisdom Lies Beyond Your Network
No matter what route I take, there is at least one school zone between my home and the office. I was reminded this morning that it was the first day of school first by the Facebook post of my granddaughter on her first day at third grade and then by the yellow flashing lights and signs to refrain from talking on a cell phone.
And, while I doubt I would speed over pedestrians while talking on my phone if I didn’t have the reminder, it made me contemplate the wisdom of occasionally slowing down and taking a step back from the electronics in every day life.
Unlike Patriot Academy students, I was actually born before the age of personal computers. (Really!) I remember when a calculator with the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide sold for $79. Later models came with percentage keys, but they were $119. I worked for Radio Shack when the first personal computers were introduced. Since my store was the location nearest NASA, engineers mobbed the place to get their hands on the 4K TRS-80. They could be upgraded to a full 16K, but most people didn’t see the need for that much power. Today throw away calculators have more capacity than that.
But, does the increased technology make us any wiser? Not really. While a Google search can make you look really smart, it doesn’t help a lot with how to use the information. And, it does nothing to tap into the most powerful tool available to the believer – the mind of Christ.
You may read your Bible on your smart phone or your iPad, but the time you spend in the Word and in your quiet time is really no different than the times of Moses and King David. Both men, mighty men of God, shared one thing in common – they spent a lot of time in solitude getting to know the Lord before they could be used by Him.
Next time you pick up your Bible, think of the flashing lights of the school zone. Let it be a reminder to you to slow down, put away your cell phone and electronics and truly pay attention to what you are doing. It may be the biggest investment in your eternity that you ever make.
