Sunday, March 6, 2011
Internet-Onset Attention Deficit Disorder
The internet makes it hard to worship together. Today is CES fireside Sunday and all eyes are on L. Tom Perry behind the Marriot Center pulpit. Meanwhile, the smells of chocolaty Scotchies reach out from the kitchen; birthday preparations echo from the dining room. Perry visits the apartment from a laptop screen; he doesn't mind the ambiance. However, life static makes it impossible to give more than a half-hearted attempt at attention, and even then attention is fragile. I can't help but think back on a BYUSA banner reading, "It's Better When We're All Together," and now realizing BYUSAs motivation: in person we pay attention, however the choice to watch the fireside from a laptop has pulled the place apart.
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Technology doesn't facilitate the acquisition of spirituality. It has, does, and will always require sacrifice and commitment. To get the most out of CES firesides, campus devotionals, weekly sacrament meetings, and any other church endeavor, sometimes we just need to turn off the static and go participate fully and completely "all together" like you said.
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