This is the third in a 3 part series of significant phenomena in the U.S. over the past 100 years.
A hundred years ago, in 1922, a man named Poplawski created an electric blender. Today, my go-to meal – usually six to eight times a week – is a smoothie, either standing in line at
Smoothie King or collaborating with my wife in the kitchen because she wants one, too. Point is, I’m not the only smoothie lover. Nor are smoothies the only use for blenders. Good work, Mr. Poplawski!
Ninety-five years ago, Ford Motor Company concluded its production of the Model T; Henry
Ford and company had succeeded in individualizing the automobile. Today, I drive one of 289 million cars on the road in the U.S. And some days I’m sure most of them are in front of me at the stoplight.
Ninety years ago, polaroid photography and the zoom lens flashed onto the scene. Now the
most common picture is the selfie. The smart phone is the most oft used camera.
In 1937, eighty-five years ago, the copy machine was invented. Now when I want a copy of
something, I often use one of many ways to get it onto my phone and print it by Bluetooth (oh, but that’s jumping ahead about seventy years).
1942 was the year the electronic digital computer was invented. It occupied a 1,500 square feet room. The one I’m typing on right now occupies my lap.
Three surprises had come along by the end of 1947 (and I don’t mean some couple’s unplanned triplets). I’m referring to the microwave oven, the mobile phone (though not exactly the cell phone), and the holograph. (If you don’t know what that is, just Google it; I did. Fascinating!)
So you get the idea. You can get a good sample of the past century’s technology growth by
peeping in five year increments. And what we see in each thread that’s tied to its future (us) is that it becomes more individualized.
Instead of a family tv, like my family had when I was a kid, the whole family viewing
programming together, each family member has their own screen, so there are as many
different musings being viewed as there are people in the household.
My siblings and I used to play vinyl records on our very big stereo that sat in our living room.
Now everybody has their ear buds in and listens to their chosen music, regardless of how many people are around them or what those people are doing.
Previous generations sat on their front porches, watched passers-by and communed with their neighbors. We sit inside where the AC is cool and “connect” in a different kind of neighborhood on social media.
We’ve gained freedom, individual choice and convenience, but we’ve lost fellowship and
togetherness. Some consider that a good trade; others treasure times when technology was less advanced and we did things together.
We live in a time when access is quick and easy. That we can get the answer to almost any
question in a matter of seconds is a privilege unique in history.
The real question is what should we do with such privilege of access. That answer lies in
Romans 11:36 For everything comes from [God] and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. The technology available to us is neither bad nor good per se. The tendency is to judge it by its use. We should judge it by its potential to bring glory to God. Viewing it through that lens, we see it in a more positive light.
What if we thank God every time we use one of the advanced tools of our age? What if we
consulted God for how we should view and use it? Our perspective on it would change and so would what we do with it.
So God, we thank You for the tools you’ve placed in our lives. When they’re in our hands help us to honor You, to bring glory to you in the way we wield them.
May we cooperate with God as He answers our prayer.