Technology is everywhere. And in many ways, it seems to be as vital to modern life as it is ubiquitous. From the microwave to the MacBook, technology is designed to automate tasks or simplify workflows. It opens a vast world of opportunities and experiences because it is expertly designed to do one thing well. Technology makes things easy!
The last century has been one of great change. Beginning with the industrial revolution and extending through to our modern technological revolution, we have seen the quality and quantity of life dramatically improve thanks to innovation and technology. We have harnessed invisible powers to light and heat our homes. Through technology we have allowed man to walk everywhere from the tops of mountains to the moon. And I now carry in my pocket a device which allows me to not just have access the most exhaustive library in the world but also connect instantaneously with anyone, anywhere!
However, part of what makes the human experience rich, and rewarding is difficulty. It is findings challenges and overcoming them. I am not necessarily advocating for turning back the hands of time and returning to a more primitive, agrarian society. But think how much development of the body and mind is lost by automating physically difficult tasks. How much more cluttered is our mind as we fill the blank spaces in our day, primed for reflection, with a constant barrage of tunes, podcasts, and audiobooks. And think about how much shallower our relationships are when the cost of connection is not the difficulty of a face-to-face conversation but simply the click of a heart shaped emoji.
When I kid, my family bought our first personal computer. I remember as my dad set up this new, amazing device. As he pushed the power button, the lights on the CPU began to illuminate, and the monitor began to glow with the bootup sequence of a 1990 Packard Bell. Little did I know at the time that the blinking cursor that I stared at in the DOS prompt would forever change not just my life, but the way modern life works.
But as I look back, now 34 years later, the question to ask is this, “Is life better?” Has this tool substantially changed life in a positive way? In some ways, the answer is a resounding yes. But in others, it has become a significant distraction begging the question, “How do we use technology to leverage its benefits while avoiding its pitfalls?”
To begin answering this question, we need to ask ourselves another, more basic question, “What are we made for?” In some ways this is a complex question, but at its core it is simple. While it is true that we have been made to work and to create, we are fundamentally made for relationship.
In this book, author Andy Crouch explores the idea that technology is a disruptive force in family life. While it can provide many benefits, it can also be a large distraction from the primary relational focus of our homes. He discusses strategies for mitigating the tendency for technology to tear us apart and shows how to carve our space in our homes where we give relationship preeminence over our screens. This book isn’t a blanket condemnation of all that is digital. Rather, it is an argument for why we should allow some analog space in our families for relationship.
Personally, I found this book helpful as I think through my own obsession with technology. All too often, I turn to technology as the “Easy Button.” Whether it be a quick dopamine hit to cure my own boredom or a way of captivating my kid’s attention for a few minutes so that I can accomplish some task or have a moment’s respite, technology has an insidious way of inserting its tentacles into the life of my family. This book has offered some food for thought on the matter and lays the foundation for why and how to shut off the glowing screen and be family.
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