Fr Vincent Sherlock
The Notebook
I got a message recently, one of those funny messages we so freely share with one another. It was a picture of two people looking at their smartphones and the caption ran: “I’m having a few people over to stare at their phones later if you want to come by!”
We know the scene. People absorbed in technology and, at times, oblivious to the people with whom they’re sitting. I heard recently of a baptism where the priest was approached by somebody attending the ceremony. Assuming the man was about to ask for the toilet, the priest prepared to give him directions.
There was a question all right but it was more about technology than geography! “What,” the man asked the priest “is your WiFi password?” He obviously had other places to be!
I am a huge follower of technology. Like the comedian Michael McIntyre, I have leads in my house that I no longer know what they’re for. I cannot bring myself to dump them just in case I might need them someday even though I can find nothing in my house that seems to belong to them. I follow technology and like to keep very up to date. I’m sure there’s a support group I can join but I’ll have to check my Google diary on my latest phone to see if I’m free to attend.
Recently stories are circulating about restaurants refusing to have WiFi because the owners believe people should show respect to one another and to the food presented by being ‘with’ each other. There’s no denying the truth and value of that mindset. We have the latest in technology and can communicate instantly with every part of the world. All too often though, we are not talking to one another.
Hypocrisy
So where’s all this going? Am I going to suggest dumping the smartphone? To do so would catapult me into a level of hypocrisy that is beyond imagination. I would find life altered beyond recognition were I to turn my back on technology. I see, nonetheless, the awful pitfalls associated with getting lost in technology, instant messaging and the countless ways we can spend time away from one another in pursuit of communication.
Back to those shared messages. Heard one recently about a man who said he had decided to live his life in the style of Facebook. He said he was taking random photos of the food he was eating and showing them to people. Then he stood on the street and shouted out to all passing by where he was just at that exact moment. He said he called people his “friends” when he met them on the street and invited them to be his “friends” and to “like” him. He said he was surprised how well it was working. “Already I have three people following me”, he said, “a psychiatrist and two policemen!”
So maybe we can pull back a bit from the screen, stop swiping the finger, pinching to zoom, clicking to share…maybe we could try talking to one another this week. Chances are it’s the right thing to do!
This is your mother
Mary’s month! That is the association, for many, in this month of May. There’s a possible invitation to spend some time with the rosary. Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous and Glorious mysteries take us on a tour through the life of Jesus. That was Mary’s way.
She sought above all to focus our thoughts, hearts and attention on Jesus. She is truly a backdrop to our faith story.
Ever present and loyal, Mary continues to be our model of right living.
We too need to be with people when they’re experiencing joys and sorrows, moments of enlightenment and glory. May is as good a month as any to start or continue the journey.
I looked up a YouTube video a few months ago to find out the best way to keep a roast from drying up. I found a helpful video and as I was looking at it I scrolled down to the comments. The presenter of the video made some reference to measuring things in “cups”. The second comment took issue with this, saying that it was very American. The next comment took issue with that and within three or four comments, there was absolutely no mention of the video or the topic covered. People were insulting each other and drawing each other’s attention to insults they might have missed. You can see why people say they “never read comments”. I really think the word people needed was “thanks”. If it’s not helpful, don’t say it!
