Ah, the 90's. It's a time I think most people of my generation look back upon with fondness because we didn't have the same things that we have today. Life was simpler. But it was on the verge of exploding, and, somewhere in the back of our minds, we knew it.
If you had told us we'd have mini-computers that we could carry with us in our pockets and reference at random to show videos (VIDEOS! Psh! Yeah right! Get the VHS tape out, guys) to our friends, or to check our email. I would have laughed.
For those of us who look with anxiety to our future in this techno-world of cyber-space, just remember all the good that can come out of it. Think of all the people we can reach now! Think of the knowledge we have at our fingertips! And look at the good that technology has done for us! Seriously - just look at the new drone ambulances they're developing! It's so darn cool!
The sad part is, I really don't have to go on and on about the downsides to this brave new world. Everyone seems to be stunningly familiar with those.
My question concerning these things is this: how do we take this endless sea of knowledge and connectivity and use it for good? How do we become the people to develop the next drone ambulance? And, moreover, how to we get ourselves to want that? How do we look inside ourselves (not our phones), to see the possibilities for good with this newness we have? And how do we make them into desires to see that goodness realized?
It's easy to demonize these marvels when they can so easily be used for evil. And it's startlingly easy to overlook any potential harm. The difficulty is in finding the middle ground that will allow us to do the most good - to become the best people we can be. But once we find ourselves there, that is when we can really improve the world.
As always, much love!
Ceci Galvin
CYM, St. John the Evangelist
