It is becoming a challenge to engage students in conversation
on campus. Whether in the coffee shop,
passing on the sidewalk, riding the bus, or while working out in the gym, many
are preoccupied with their handheld
devices. That was the term, of course,
initially used to describe portable instruments equipped with operating systems
that allowed one to compute, listen to music, or play games, etc. by
oneself. Few use the term handheld any longer to refer to their tablet or “Kindle”. Rather the majority of owners of such
devices are the focused users of smartphones.
These smart
devices do way more than simply allow friends to talk with one another across
the miles (or across the street). The
average smartphone holder now calls on 29 different apps, i.e. applications,
with 18-24 year olds occupied more than one full day per month[1]
“on” their smartphones. I almost feel
that I am interrupting someone who is budded-in and concentrating on that tiny
screen in his hand if only to pass a greeting.
“Hi! How’s it going?”
“Huh? What, who, me? Oh, yeah, fine…”
Recently I
enjoyed re-reading another of P.D. James’ masterly written works of detective
fiction this one entitled, Devices and
Desires. It is only near the
conclusion when Scotland Yard’s finest, Adam Dalgliesh, is solving the mystery
that the author inserts phrasing that links to her title.
She said,
“If we are faced with a decision, a dilemma, how do we know what is right?”
“Our conscience will tell us if we
listen.”
…. She said with gentle persistence: “But how can we be sure
that what we’re hearing isn’t our own voice, our own subconscious desires? The message we listen for so carefully must
be mediated through our own experience, our personality, our heredity, our
inner needs. Can we ever break free of
the devices and desires of our own hearts?
Might not our conscience be telling us what we most want to hear?”
Indeed, James’ story is riven by the
tragedies of various personalities who have been following the desires of their
hearts resulting in: murders, sexual
immorality, intellectual dishonesty, greed, broken relationships and even a
larger plot to control others’ lives against their wishes.
James
employs a second meaning to the word devices
than the first to which I referred previously, handheld devices. In the
story Meg and Dalgliesh are speaking of a person’s desires, inclinations, plans
or techniques that often flow from self-centered or deceiving intentions. In some cases those “devices” are seen to be fanciful, elaborate, or intricately designs. Most, however, result in disharmony and
crime. Perhaps that is why James needs
400+ pages to untangle the web of deceitful devices before truth is uncovered
and justice is served – though not in a way that may fully satisfy readers.
Have the smartphone-riveted people
who pass me daily ghost-like while deeply focused on one of the wonderful
available apps, also fallen prey, however subtly, to less-than-good desires
masked by the “awesome” devices that hold them captive? I am quite aware of the positive benefits
argued by many of this technology. At
the same time one may counter that the technology unbridled offers temptations
to conscience-confused users that feed unhealthy desires with unintended
results. When two people are hindered
from exchanging heart-felt greetings – back to my opening example – then the
use of the device takes on idol-like ramifications that are unworthy of our
humanity.
Though devices may change and be
updated, desires remain “tricky” or worse, deceitful and dreadful. Can we break free of the devices and desires
of our own hearts (or handheld tools)?[2] Who of us will hear our Maker’s rebuke that
serves as an invitation to repent and return to what should be rightfully our
highest and most worthy loyalty?
“But my people would not listen to
me;
… would not submit to me;
so I gave them over to their
stubborn hearts
 |
ALMIGHTY and most
merciful Father, we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and
desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have
left undone those things which we ought to have done; we have done those things
which we ought not to have done, and there is no health in us. But thou, O
Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou those, O God, who
confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent according to thy
promises declared unto humankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most
merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous,
and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.[4]
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