Learning to use technology
10/06/14 05:17
The technology in our homes and in our pockets has changed so quickly that we are still learning how to manage it. With cell phones we are constantly connected and as our cell phones become smart phones, we have added texting, e-mail and other forms of connection to the voice link that not long ago was restricted to our homes, offices and other places that were connected by wire.
There are some tremendous benefits to this technology. I have used both my home computer and my cell phone to avoid a trip to the office when I might have needed to go in in previous times. Sometimes I can answer a simple question or help another person by making a short phone call when others may have had to interrupt their activities and go in for a face-=ti-face meeting.
What I really like about the technology is the way it helps me stay connected with my family. We had pictures of our new granddaughter while she was still in the delivery room. Although we were working hard on preparations for the Conference Annual Meeting, I had regular updates on the progress of labor and birth as it was happening - right in my pocket. I already have pictures of the new baby to show to others - right in my pocket. I know that I can tough base with the other members of my family and check up on them. When I travel, I can give those who are awaiting my arrival regular updates on my progress.
There is much to like about the new technologies.
There are also a few things that drive me up the wall. One is the expectation that we always remain connected. I choose to disconnect from time to time. Yesterday I took a vacation from e-mail. I didn’t check my e-mail at all during the day. It was a way of getting some time away from work after an intense few weeks when I was working on my day off week after week and participating in the preparations to host the Annual Meeting. With the annual meeting over and no major medical crises going on in the congregation, it seemed a good time to give everyone a day off, close the church office and get a little recreation. I had a long list of chores at home that had been deferred during the busyness of the past few weeks.
I know, however, that there are risks to not checking my e-mail. I have been chastised by people for not responding immediately to e-mail messages. One time a couple of years ago We were working with an attorney to adjust our wills after the death of our parents and we discovered that the attorney who was doing the work charges for every e-mail. The charge was substantial. We learned not to send an e-mail to the attorney to check an appointment or conduct any trivial business. The attorney only responded to e-mails during business hours and charged the regular hourly rate for doing so. It doesn’t work that way in the church. When I have taken time away from e-mail, I have delayed response to parishioners’ concerns. They expect the response to be quick.
Despite taking a break from e-mail yesterday, I did carry my phone with me. I am on call for our local Survivors of Suicide response team and need to be constantly available this week. I spoke with at least four members of the congregation yesterday. Two of the conversations began with, “I’m sorry to bother you on you day off, but there was nobody at the church.” The calls included legitimate concerns, but no immediate crises. One was to question the time of a meeting which had been listed in the worship bulletin incorrectly. The actual meeting was 15 minutes later than printed in the bulletin. A second call also was about something listed in the bulletin. One was to make an appointment later this week. Another was to report some changes in the progress of a chronic disease. None of the calls were for essential information that needed to be communicated immediately. But we have learned to make the call when we are thinking about it. It is seen as good practice to deal with things now and not delay until a more convenient time.
Text messages are a bit less invasive. I can ignore them for a few minutes and reply when a particular task is completed. Unlike the phone which demands instant response, text messages can wait for a reply.
There isn’t anything inherently wrong with the technology. It is just that the technology has changed so fast that we haven’t yet learned to manage it. I can remember when a short drive into the hills took one to places where there was no cell phone signal. Those places are getting harder and harder to find. These days, I leave my cell phone behind when I am paddling or rowing, but I can already that changing. I now have a waterproof case for my cell phone and taking it with me would allow me to paddle on the days that I am on call without having to line up a substitute first.
There is one time and place where I leave the technology behind. I leave my cell phone in my office when I am leading worship. I have never been chastised for not responding to calls or texts or e-mails during worship, although I have received calls that were missed from my siblings. You’d think that they would know that I can’t answer the pone at that time on a Sunday morning.
It seems that there are plenty of other times and places that we could hold sacred. We don’t need to talk on the phone during meal times. We don’t need to constantly interrupt important jobs. Most phone calls can wait for a response. I have voice mail on all of my phones. It is easy to leave a message. In fact I tell people to be prepared to leave a message when they call.
Now all I have to do is to teach them patience, so that they don’t expect an immediate call back, especially when the topic is not an emergency and I am trying to take a day off.
We’ve still got a lot to learn about how to use these marvelous technological devices.
There are some tremendous benefits to this technology. I have used both my home computer and my cell phone to avoid a trip to the office when I might have needed to go in in previous times. Sometimes I can answer a simple question or help another person by making a short phone call when others may have had to interrupt their activities and go in for a face-=ti-face meeting.
What I really like about the technology is the way it helps me stay connected with my family. We had pictures of our new granddaughter while she was still in the delivery room. Although we were working hard on preparations for the Conference Annual Meeting, I had regular updates on the progress of labor and birth as it was happening - right in my pocket. I already have pictures of the new baby to show to others - right in my pocket. I know that I can tough base with the other members of my family and check up on them. When I travel, I can give those who are awaiting my arrival regular updates on my progress.
There is much to like about the new technologies.
There are also a few things that drive me up the wall. One is the expectation that we always remain connected. I choose to disconnect from time to time. Yesterday I took a vacation from e-mail. I didn’t check my e-mail at all during the day. It was a way of getting some time away from work after an intense few weeks when I was working on my day off week after week and participating in the preparations to host the Annual Meeting. With the annual meeting over and no major medical crises going on in the congregation, it seemed a good time to give everyone a day off, close the church office and get a little recreation. I had a long list of chores at home that had been deferred during the busyness of the past few weeks.
I know, however, that there are risks to not checking my e-mail. I have been chastised by people for not responding immediately to e-mail messages. One time a couple of years ago We were working with an attorney to adjust our wills after the death of our parents and we discovered that the attorney who was doing the work charges for every e-mail. The charge was substantial. We learned not to send an e-mail to the attorney to check an appointment or conduct any trivial business. The attorney only responded to e-mails during business hours and charged the regular hourly rate for doing so. It doesn’t work that way in the church. When I have taken time away from e-mail, I have delayed response to parishioners’ concerns. They expect the response to be quick.
Despite taking a break from e-mail yesterday, I did carry my phone with me. I am on call for our local Survivors of Suicide response team and need to be constantly available this week. I spoke with at least four members of the congregation yesterday. Two of the conversations began with, “I’m sorry to bother you on you day off, but there was nobody at the church.” The calls included legitimate concerns, but no immediate crises. One was to question the time of a meeting which had been listed in the worship bulletin incorrectly. The actual meeting was 15 minutes later than printed in the bulletin. A second call also was about something listed in the bulletin. One was to make an appointment later this week. Another was to report some changes in the progress of a chronic disease. None of the calls were for essential information that needed to be communicated immediately. But we have learned to make the call when we are thinking about it. It is seen as good practice to deal with things now and not delay until a more convenient time.
Text messages are a bit less invasive. I can ignore them for a few minutes and reply when a particular task is completed. Unlike the phone which demands instant response, text messages can wait for a reply.
There isn’t anything inherently wrong with the technology. It is just that the technology has changed so fast that we haven’t yet learned to manage it. I can remember when a short drive into the hills took one to places where there was no cell phone signal. Those places are getting harder and harder to find. These days, I leave my cell phone behind when I am paddling or rowing, but I can already that changing. I now have a waterproof case for my cell phone and taking it with me would allow me to paddle on the days that I am on call without having to line up a substitute first.
There is one time and place where I leave the technology behind. I leave my cell phone in my office when I am leading worship. I have never been chastised for not responding to calls or texts or e-mails during worship, although I have received calls that were missed from my siblings. You’d think that they would know that I can’t answer the pone at that time on a Sunday morning.
It seems that there are plenty of other times and places that we could hold sacred. We don’t need to talk on the phone during meal times. We don’t need to constantly interrupt important jobs. Most phone calls can wait for a response. I have voice mail on all of my phones. It is easy to leave a message. In fact I tell people to be prepared to leave a message when they call.
Now all I have to do is to teach them patience, so that they don’t expect an immediate call back, especially when the topic is not an emergency and I am trying to take a day off.
We’ve still got a lot to learn about how to use these marvelous technological devices.