It was wonderful watching a group of young people gathered around the Koi pond in St. Andrew’s Cathedral learning about God and praying. They were led by two older leaders from a mission organisation. Then they bowed their heads to pray, led by one of the older leaders. The other leader, however, was busy with her mobile phone during the entire prayer session which was quite long. She was busy messaging (I wonder if it was to God) and quite oblivious to the fact that she may be setting a very bad example to the young ones.

The mobile phone, especially those with very sophisticated functions, is very much a blessing and a bane in life. It has compressed space and time between people. It facilitates work and businesses. It provides a means for fast request and response to emergencies. All well and good.

The problem is when people are enslaved by it. They lose control of their lives to the almighty phone. Everywhere they are, they must be instantly contactable even while in the toilet on ‘major business’. There is the terrible urge to be in communication with someone else at any one time. If it does not happen, then it seems like the end of the world.

We really must learn to take control of the gadgets and not allow them to be our masters. Gadgets, especially mobile phones and portable computers, are good servants but very poor masters. They are like evil lurking in a corner.  Once they see the opportunity they will take control and start destroying your life – very slowly. Notice that I am not advocating that we dump them. I am asking you to take FULL control of them. Do not let the need to be on FB, SMSing, surfing the net and plugging the ears to some devices deluge you from the real presence of all those around you. This is especially so with regards to your communion with the Almighty God, Jesus Christ.

It is up to you.

 

God bless!