Slipping Away by Dr. Juan Harrison
Slipping Away
In a world of uncertainty and broken promises, it’s good to look around us and be reminded that something more powerful than us is in charge and continues to give us signs that things are still under reasonable control. We know it’s Spring when the Bradford pear, tulip trees and Dogwood begin to bloom. We know Fall is coming when the Mulberry trees begin to drop their leaves as others start to change their colors. Constant social media and news media focus almost exclusively on negative things clothed in doom and gloom. It almost becomes brainwashing. Surveys tell us that a large number of our young people are in a state of sadness. You’re puzzled by the fact that so many of them have all the basic needs met with a majority of them finding ways to have cell phones and phone plans that let them stay attached to and dominating their attention constantly. Surveys tell us the more time spent on social media the greater likelihood the user will have higher rates of depression, anxiety, loneliness, isolation and a few other negative effects.
The irony of our world today is that a majority of the world is occupied with constant interaction with others by social media, texts, Facetime, while often having limited time of face-to-face interaction with another human. We hear that 95% of communication is nonverbal. What people’s eye contact, facial expressions, general body language tell us can be far more telling than a text, email, or other form of transmission or communication. We can even include the concept of what you don’t say may even be more important than what you do say.
As our world has doubled and tripled in speed of activity, we find ourselves having less and less real communication with each other. Conversations don’t get finished. Couples quit communicating and divorce. People’s frustration levels rise as conversation and communication seem shallower, more superficial, almost in passing as we scurry here and there like rats in a maze.
With everyone but us old folks seemingly short on time for real meaningful conversations, people grow frustrated with little time for family members and friends to sit and talk a spell and reconnect with another human, something with far more lasting value, as the shallownness of most of our communicating with others leaves us hungry for real conversation with people we know.
The Bible tells us in the end times there will be a great increase in knowledge and people going to and fro on the earth. Sounds familiar. Obviously as Solomon predicted all this accumulation of stuff and knowledge and experiences seems only to have poured gasoline onto the fire. No wonder we find ourselves missing the good old slower days that have slipped away.
By Dr. Juan Harrison
