麻豆约拍

GOOD MORNING

The first successful allied jet fighter flight today in 1941 effectively laid the foundation for the jet age that shrank the world.聽 New technology has shrunk it even further

Yet, new technology can, at the same time, increase the gap between people.

A friend told me that two of his employees 鈥� bright, young, Oxbridge graduates, came to him to complain about their direct report, ten years older than they, whose desk is just across the room from them.

What鈥檚 the problem?聽 He asked.

鈥淚t鈥檚 that he keeps coming up to our desks and asking questions.鈥�

鈥淲hat sort of questions?鈥� he replied nervously.

鈥淥h 鈥� just about work: but it鈥檚 intimidating.聽 Why doesn鈥檛 he just email.鈥�

One of the ironies of modern life is that we have so many more ways to contact people鈥� texting, email, 鈥淭witter鈥� - but, at the same time, anxiety about others and human isolation is at an all-time high.

People have never been better connected but, arguably,聽 feel more alone and disconnected from other humans.

When I was a little boy, a morning walk up the village main street could take two hours 鈥� stopping and talking to each person; no shop entered without greeting and conversation; the bonds of community renewed by simple daily acts.

Recently, I walked to the shop in the same village.聽 People walking, heads down, plugged into their iPods: little no eye-contact, no conversation; the only words 鈥� the price of my purchase from the girl behind the till who was texting as she uttered them.聽

In this remote, lovely place, now you can buy French bottled water and extra-virgin olive oil, but no one seems to talk to each other anymore

Father, the technology of daily life can keep us in the shallows 鈥� texting聽 or emailing alone before a screen.聽 Bridge the gap between us and those we meet today: may we look into their eyes, hear their voices鈥� and listen with patience and expectation.

AMEN.