To help teach and bring life to many of these familiar stories, we have the students participate in a number of experiences throughout the evening, such as: discussion, art, prayer, silence & reflection, etc. My reason for writing today is not so much to recommend Michael Novelli's 'Shaped by the Story', but to share the discouraging events that take place just before the lessons begin.
Because the lessons focus on experiencing the stories of scripture, we thought (and so does Novelli in the book) it would be a good idea to have a 'cell phone basket' for the teens to put their little mobile devices in so that they won't be distracted as they 'enter the story.' So far in two weeks, we have had at least one student 'threaten' to leave, others promise that they would tell their parents about what we were doing, and several cry and complain as if we were asking them to give up a lung.
In November we went on a retreat with our students. Mistakenly, we did not enfore a cell phone rule. As a result, many of our students were constantly checking facebook, sending texts, and 'connecting' back home... While the teens may have 'retreated' physically, their cell phones ensured they did not have to retreat socially, mentally, and spiritually.
And to me, this is the crux of the issue. Phones, smart phones in particular, have made it so we no longer have to be mentally present where we are physically present. Our phones have enabled us to disconnect from our surroundings and reconnect to our social networks, our favorite games, and our friends. I may possibly be in the presence of hearing the most beautiful rendition of Bethoven's fifth or perhaps I am sitting in a pew where God's Word is being preached with truth and conviction but my eyes, ears, mind, and heart can very easily be hundreds of miles away thanks to my droid.
Smart phones brag about their ability to 'connect us' but I would argue that as much connecting that is taking place, there is a greater amount of disconnecting that is happening. Invited to a friends house that you don't care to be at? No problem at all. The conversation doesn't particularly interest you? Easy solution. Too scared to have the awkward 'break up' conversation in person? Problem solved. Disconnecting has never been so easy.
Not only do our phones enable us to disconnect, I would also argue that they foster selfishness, greed, and impatience. The smart phone is geared to give the owner anything they want in an instant: people, news, sports, facebook, porn, music, you name it... So what happens when we are placed in an environment that does not cater to every aspect of our wants? We get it with the help of our phones.
"And then Jesus approached the two students, one was sending a tweet pic of their new shirt while the other was updating their status, and said to them, 'I want you to put your phones down and follow me..."
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Love your post. You hit it right on the head. However, I need to take the boulder out of my eye before I complain about it with my students and situation. Thanks bro!
ReplyDeleteHow do you personally make sure you put down your cell phone in your daily life? What have you found helpful?
Where do you think this smart phone phenomenon will lead in the next 1-3 years?
Aaron
In our everyday lives it becomes increasingly difficult to simply still our minds. I dare you to turn off your phones for an hour and see what happens! Psalm 46:10 You might just like it.
ReplyDeleteYou forgot the threat to make us pay their phone bill...that was my favorite of the night.
ReplyDeleteThoughtful and true.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your sentiments, well written and true. What struck me with this post was how powerful the resistant response was with your teens. Perhaps you were introducing a concept they aren't able to do yet. With the teens I work with they text and update their facebook throughout the day from school. This idea of putting the phones away to "disconnect" to connect is a concept very new to many teens. Maybe the greater lesson for your series will be about this blog post. The material you cover will be worthless if your teen is sulking about giving up their phone. Maybe other paths exist that will encourage your teens to put their phones away without creating such a stressful environment for everyone. Take a look at the cyberbullying stuff online, they have stories about how kids can't escape the drama anywhere, they get bullied in their bed at night because they can't turn off their phone. If they can turn off their phone they are more empowered to stop a bully.
ReplyDeleteRead this on my smart phone :P
ReplyDelete