It’s the first day back to work after Christmas (unless the week was taken off as a holiday or the company shuts down for the week) and it’s comparison day. This is the day when everyone wants to know what others got for Christmas not only so they will know, but also to give themselves a chance to tell others what they received. It’s a fun day and what we will hear of lots of presents. I would predict that there will be plenty of pieces of technology that get mentioned this year. If the Apple store last week was any indication there were many iPads that found themselves under the Christmas tree along with other fun technology devices. And, with each of these new tech toys comes more time to fiddle with them, learn them and then make them a part of our everyday routines. With each new piece of technology we acquire we give a little more of ourselves to it and it to us. I read Kevin Kelly’s new book this year, “What Technology Wants” (an excellent read). He goes deep into this phenomena and provides his own set of thoughts, cautions and ideas on how best to utilize and capitalize on the new things in our life that become a part of us and us them in short order. In general, there is nothing wrong with this and technology propels (or pulls) us forward. However, if we found ourselves consumed and obsessed (by anything) then we need to reevaluate and be sure that we have our priorities in the right place. That iPad is awesome and the next time we get on a plane we now have a movie ready to go. But, at the expense of the conversation we can have with our spouse or kids? It’s just a watchout, just as Paul tells us about anything of the world that we let go too far: “Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all of its contains will pass away.” It’s something to think about when we start using this year’s Christmas presents.

Reference: 1 Corinthians 7:31 (New Living Testament)