You may be thirty years old, sixty-five years old, sixteen years old – or even nine years old - and a common thread between most of us is our mobile device that gives us the ability to connect with one another.

And yet despite the ability and ease to connect with each other we are missing a deeper connection – we are missing a relational connection.

In an interesting TED talk Professor Sherry Turkle tackles this subject of “Connected, but Alone”. She said that she gets a lot of people telling her that they hope Siri advances enough to become like a best friend. These people feel like no one is listening and they want to spend more and more time with machines.

It’s probably safe to assume that behind the smiling faces of those we know and interact with there are deeply lonely people with hurting hearts.

We turn more and more to our devices and technology and expect less from each other.

Why?

Professor Turkle  suggests this is because technology appeals to us where we are most vulnerable – we are lonely but we are afraid of intimacy.

She makes a strong case beginning with the dangers of how current technology is changing our psyche and ending with a passionate plea for us to use technology to live our real lives as well as love the lives we live – and I would add, use technology to love those in our lives.

As Christians we are called to love.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” {John 13:34}

There are two sides to technology. On the one hand technology can isolate people, causing them to shy away from any depth and vulnerability a relationship offers; drawing them to mobile devices rather than real relationships.

On the other hand technology can draw people together, unifying prayer warriors. It can be a means to encourage each other, and to love each other more deeply.

This is what we need to use technology for. Loving one another. Encouraging one another. Building each other up. Connecting on a relational level with each other. Pointing one another to Christ.

Find your own way to use technology to love others. To encourage others. To reach out to the lonely. Because we must be loving, and we have incredible tools at our disposal to help us reach out to others.

This week take the time to send an encouraging text to a college student away from home, or send an e-mail to a missionary to let them know you are thinking of them, or update your Facebook status with a verse you’ve been enjoying in your personal reading.