Knowing One's Place
In somewhat of a change from the normal post of things, a conversation I had with someone at my church last night got me thinking about ways that I go about ministering/counseling about the use of mobile devices effectively. The person eventually asked to partake in my consulting services, and in praying about how to go about serving her, I want to put here some of the thoughts that I tend to go through when I am asked about tech.
Let me preference things that I do not care to just talk tech. As I stated on my personal site a few days ago, I really just like people. But when the tech hat goes on, there is a methodology of thoughts that I work through, and are probably indictative of how we all do to some degree.
The person began by asking me if the device I had in my hand was a Blackberry. I responded that it was a Treo, similar, but different in a few respects. She mentioned that she was looking for a similar device, and it was at this point that my mind began churning:
- what is this person looking to do
- what do they do already
- what do they have
- what are they will to pay for
- do they understand the compromises of this kind of smartphone versus other options
- do they really need this, or is it just a fulfilling of 'gadget-itis'
As we continued talking, I listened to what it is she'd like to do, and made an inital recommendation based on her carrier, cost of device and service, and what would most likely just work without much thought involved in terms of maintaining it.
It was at this point that it hit me again that what I do is ministry. Not in the respect of pastoral-teaching, but more or less to the effect of "helps." My role is to help this (any) person understand enough about this technology so that it becomes a productive, yet not overt, part of their lifestyle.
In some recent thoughts, I've been really seeing a good bit of contentment about where I am in terms of mobile tech. This translates into me better listening and responding to the needs of others. I'm rarely sure that I will be 100% right, but I am sure that I am working in that line of gifting that is where I am called to be.
I guess that I write this to say that having tech, and knowing its place is one thing; but knowing also where you are in the scheme of things allows for some stability and driven-prupose that just being into something blindly cannot allow for. It is my hope that as you read postings here at MMM that you are encouraged not to just have tech, or even want certain aspects of it. But rather, that you see its place, and then in seeing its various applications, make a place for the Spirit of God to lead you into that understanding of where you are in the Body, and how you enable us all to walk closer to Him. Because really, if you have a GPS and still fall into the river, do you really know where you are going?
Let me preference things that I do not care to just talk tech. As I stated on my personal site a few days ago, I really just like people. But when the tech hat goes on, there is a methodology of thoughts that I work through, and are probably indictative of how we all do to some degree.
The person began by asking me if the device I had in my hand was a Blackberry. I responded that it was a Treo, similar, but different in a few respects. She mentioned that she was looking for a similar device, and it was at this point that my mind began churning:
- what is this person looking to do
- what do they do already
- what do they have
- what are they will to pay for
- do they understand the compromises of this kind of smartphone versus other options
- do they really need this, or is it just a fulfilling of 'gadget-itis'
As we continued talking, I listened to what it is she'd like to do, and made an inital recommendation based on her carrier, cost of device and service, and what would most likely just work without much thought involved in terms of maintaining it.
It was at this point that it hit me again that what I do is ministry. Not in the respect of pastoral-teaching, but more or less to the effect of "helps." My role is to help this (any) person understand enough about this technology so that it becomes a productive, yet not overt, part of their lifestyle.
In some recent thoughts, I've been really seeing a good bit of contentment about where I am in terms of mobile tech. This translates into me better listening and responding to the needs of others. I'm rarely sure that I will be 100% right, but I am sure that I am working in that line of gifting that is where I am called to be.
I guess that I write this to say that having tech, and knowing its place is one thing; but knowing also where you are in the scheme of things allows for some stability and driven-prupose that just being into something blindly cannot allow for. It is my hope that as you read postings here at MMM that you are encouraged not to just have tech, or even want certain aspects of it. But rather, that you see its place, and then in seeing its various applications, make a place for the Spirit of God to lead you into that understanding of where you are in the Body, and how you enable us all to walk closer to Him. Because really, if you have a GPS and still fall into the river, do you really know where you are going?
posted by Antoine @ 9/28/2007 11:30:00 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Funny how the verse of the day from BibleGateway reall matches up with this line of thinking too:
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14)
This is why, despite having a blogging job that will pay my bills, I still work part-time at a cellphone kiosk. I could care less about the money (though that's decent, as well). I get paid to sit and talk to people about phones.
More importantly, the most satisfying sales are usually the ones where the person walks up and wants a device that will allow them to accomplish certain tasks, and i'm able to use my knowledge to direct them to the best device to accomplish those tasks. Oftentimes, this means a device which i don't carry. Since the money doesn't matter, I don't have a problem at all saying, "You need to get the Treo, it will be able to do what you need. You can get it at the main store" or whathaveyou. It's more the satisfaction of knowing that I've just helped someone get one step closer to living the digital lifestyle, which will hopefully involve using technology to enrich and enable their real life. That's the goal of technology, in my opinion.
A well-put post. Good job.
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