Connection Over Connectivity

If you had to guess, how many hours a day do you spend on your phone, checking your email, or consuming entertainment a day? The shocking reality is that, on average, Americans spend 12.5 hours a day consuming media. That’s three-quarters of our days. Checking our email over and over hoping that someone has reached out to us. We try to fill a God-created need in our souls with screens and emojis. Trying to replace our need for real relationships with texts and 30 second videos. It can feel like a lot. But it seems our pursuits are not for relationships but faster connectivity speed. Faster downloads. Faster uploads. And if we aren’t careful, we could get caught up in the craze and forget one vital piece of information. We were made for more. We were made to be with one another. In person and sharing life.

The author of Hebrews understood this very deeply. Maybe not the technology, but the need to be together. He wrote: let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near (Hebrews 10:25 NLT).

As believers, we were called to be in connection with other believers. To share the ups and downs of life. To support one another. Care for each other. Technology is great. It helps our connectivity and how fast we can contact someone. But it can’t replace the need in our souls for real connection of the Spirit. I know friendships are not easy to build. They take time and most of us don't have enough of it. But in this age of technology, it's important to evaluate and balance connections that are screen-to-screen rather than face-to-face. We need to pull away from our computers, phones and televisions to intentionally carve out time for friends. Times where we can meet in person to share what's going on in our lives (Renee Swope, Created For Connection).
 
Challenge yourself this week to make a connection. Not through any form of technology beside setting up a place and time. Meet someone. Walk with them. Enjoy a meal. Slow down for a minute away from the need for connectivity. Dare I say, shut your phone off for an hour with that person. Take the time to be present. Fill the need that God has given inside of us to be with one another in life and spirit. To spur each other on in the faith. We were created to connect. But it’s about connection over connectivity.