大象传媒

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Rev Dr Alfred Banya, Head of Chaplaincy at King's College Hospital in London

Be in Control - let the technology rest

Good morning.

I don鈥檛 know about you, but I sometimes feel I over-rely on technology.

I recall those days when the A to Z street maps used to help us find our way. I also recall how I sometimes found my way just by remembering key features on my route. Now it is all by maps on electronic devices.

My recent experience navigating using maps on my mobile phone made me wonder about my over-reliance on technology. On this occasion I set my phone maps to direct me to a friend鈥檚 place. As I drove, it directed me through unfamiliar backstreets. I wondered, but thought may be this was the best route Maps had chosen.

On my return journey, I had to drop a friend off at their house. We noticed that Maps was directing us through an unusual route. We surrendered to Maps once again thinking it had chosen the best route until it directed us to go through a gap in the wall, just wide enough for pedestrians and cyclists. After taking us round several times and coming back to the same gap we decided to ignore it and referred to my friend鈥檚 local knowledge of the area.

On returning home, puzzled, I decided to check the Map options on my phone. It was all along on the cycle route option, based on my previous trip during the week on my bicycle obviously. So, despite the assistance we may get today from technology, let us remember that we are still responsible for what we choose to do.

So I pray.

Gracious God,
Be in my head and in my understanding.
Be in my eyes and in my looking.
Be in my mouth and in my speaking.
Be in my heart and in my thinking.
Help me to be in control.
Amen

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