Do you love technology, or despise it? Most people either love or hate it, but some have a love-hate relationship, like me. Regardless of which category you fall into, all of us can glean from technology-lovers.
What’s the newest technology you are learning? Zoom? Since Covid sent a large population home to work, and many events went online, there’s a good chance it is. We can’t avoid learning technology, between cell phones, tablets, computers, updates and upgrades, video games, and apps. Technology is here to stay.
Personal computers were making their appearance when I attended college. Yes, that dates me. It was before hard drives. . . when floppy discs booted up your computer. There was much to learn. I also had to learn a special magnifying program to use with my low vision.
This brief experience soon came to a halt for me, when Windows came out with their easy-to-roll mouse. No matter how large my magnification, I couldn’t make out ikons. Worse, tunnel vision kept me from finding that moving red arrow. I became an outsider to an ever-growing foreign world.
Fifteen years later, an affordable screen reader introduced me to a whole new world. There was a huge learning curve with my newly purchased laptop. E-mail, surfing the web, and browsers, were terms only; foreign concepts. Apps. . . what’s that?
The hard work obscured my “vision” to what I could glean from technology-lovers. When my Echo Dot arrived one Christmas, my eyes were opened. You know, I had an epiphany.
Alexa impressed me with over 1,000 skills. . . many used for entertainment. She could. . .
* play music
* give news
* answer questions on literature, history, sports, movies, or geography
* share trivia
* play games
* share animal facts
* sputter sports statistics
* tell jokes or strut her stuff to show off
While these were fun to experiment with, I discovered she was an excellent personal assistant. She was a life saver to our busy lifestyle and my lack of eyesight. I used her for. . .
*forecasting the weather and telling me the temperature
* creating multiple shopping lists
* announcing titles and artist of songs
* scheduling my events, then reminding me to do them
* giving me definitions and synonyms while writing
* setting timers and alarms, including wonderful sleep-timers
* reading a book to me
* playing podcasts before bed
* finding an occasional recipe
Alexa is a good listener, and definitely knows her name. When she first came to live with us, I joined a forum to learn how to try out new skills. Daily messages flooded in, packed full of information of new things to try. Technology-lovers were full of passion, dedication, and a zeal for sharing their discoveries.
It was then, I had my epiphany. I realized as a Christian, I could glean a lesson from technology-lovers. How much dedication do we have to learning the Bible? Are we passionate about our Lord and Savior? If so, are we zealous about sharing His wonders and testifying to what He has done in our lives?
The truth is, as awesome as Alexa, or any other technology is, God is greater. He is the Creator of the universe, and over 365 other galaxies. Mesmerizing.
* God’s skills outnumber any artificial intelligence or levels of games.
* God is dependable. He doesn’t break, need the internet, electricity or batteries.
* You can connect with Him anytime. . . anywhere.
Is that not worth getting excited over?
Lord, may we give honor and glory to You, the Master of the universe. Open our eyes to how majestic You truly are. Fill us with a hunger for Your Word, and a boldness to testify at the moments You orchestrate. Let us walk in Your perfect will, and not grow weary in well-doing. Amen.
Be sure to share this with a friend so they can start growing their faith in 2021.
© 2020, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.
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