Opus 2012-52, Mixed Blessings of Technology

Modern technology and its advances are making us weaker on the personal level.  Years ago you needed to constantly maintain your horse or mode of transportation.  You needed to feed him every day, curry him, check his hooves, etc.  On your wagon you needed to constantly keep an eye on things.  In the early days of autos you had to adjust your breaks, set the points, etc.  All required constant maintenance.  Now we can buy a car and drive it until it drops.  Repairs require a highly trained expert with computer equipment. 

We have allowed that lack of daily maintenance to come over into our personal lives.  Instead of understanding the importance of daily spiritual attention we think that once a month or less will do it.  We have the experts in charge.  In the army we had PM.  That stood for Preventative Maintenance.  You cleaned your rifle to keep it from getting rusty, not to remove the rust.  If it got rusty you had already lost the battle.  To switch metaphors, it is easier to keep clothes from getting musty than to remove the smell later.

We need to turn the clock back.  We need to realize that technology will not replace the daily discipline that makes us better people.  Righteousness is not a one time trip to the smog control station, it is the daily habit of good habits.  I remember a world class violinist saying that if he failed to practice one day, he could tell the difference.  If he put it off a couple of days other musicians would notice.  There came a point, I can’t remember what limit he put on it, where everyone noticed.

How long has it been since you humbled yourself before almighty God?  How noticeable is it?

homo unius libri