What Glenn Writes

When I was eligible for a free upgrade on my Verizon mobile, I held off getting the next model for almost a full year.  I liked the mobile telephone I was using at the time.  This model had great range, giving me service when people with newer models could not use their telephones.  The old phone was solid, rugged, and didn’t have too many bells and whistles getting in the way of using the telephone for which it was designed – to communicate, and more specifically, to communicate verbally.

When it came time to upgrade to a family plan, the Verizon sales manager must have recognized a hard sale and sent his very best to smooze me, and boy was I smoozed.  Without going into details, I was sold on the Blackberry Storm, which I eventually labeled the blueberry for the way it made me feel.  It was slow, quirky, and tended to freeze up so much I thought I was working with a Microsoft product.  I will say I am back to calling it a Blackberry with the latest download/upgrade of the Storm’s operating system, but it was murky waters there for quite awhile. 

I just recently added a Bluetooth headphone for hands free operation.  I am now beginning to recognize the productivity features after 5 long months of trial and error, torture, and a good amount of technological frustration.  I’m good with that, though.  I’m ok with wrestling with gadgets until I figure out how they are going to work in my best interest. 

As I reread the beginning of this post, it might sound as if I am technologically challenged.  Perhaps I am one of those who can’t stand these new fangled gadgets, I listen 8-track tapes while organizing my Atari game cartridges, and still prefer the card index system at the library…  on the contrary, I am a technology trainer for a software systems company.  I provide training and consulting for companies integrating new technology and how to use it to increase efficiencies, reduce errors and frustrations, and improve profits.  My personal approach to technology has always been to stay on the leading edge, but not the bleeding edge… I stick with what works until it doesn’t work anymore or there is a much better way.  I don’t upgrade just to upgrade, I don’t buy the best just to have the best, and I don’t need to have all the gadgets just to have all the gadgets… even if they are really, really neat.  For me, technology and all the gadgets are tools, not rules in my life – I use the gadgets, they don’t use me.

I learned that when you have the latest gadget, you also have the latest frustrations with the bugs in that gadget.  Microsoft taught me to always wait to buy the latest edition of Windows until at least two Service Packs (program updates, fixes, and corrections) are available – that is also known as frustration avoidance.  Being on the bleeding edge of technology may be fun for some folks, but experience shows it is frustrating and expensive.  I don’t want the frustration and I don’t believe in wasting my money until the technology is a proven benefit. 

I held off on getting a Blackberry until I thought I could benefit from having one (see smoozing by Verizon salesperson above).  As a trainer and consultant, I was exposed to the efficiencies of the Blackberry early on, having my customers share with me all the wonders they could do with their new little gadgets.  I also witnessed them constantly looking at their little orbs of efficiency during our meetings, stopping training to text something of utter importance, and rudely cutting off conversations to address some critical message.  Unfortunately, I always viewed meetings as a necessary evil: have them, get them done, and stay on track – with as few interruptions as possible.  While I am certain there are a few exceptions, I always had to wonder just how critical these messages were to require an immediate response in the middle of a meeting. 

Also, I always felt like an intruder when a conversation was interrupted for a telephone call when someone tapped the little black earpiece and spoke to the caller while looking at me.  What is the appropriate etiquette?  Shall I leave?  Stand up and look out the window?  Lean closer so I can hear the caller?  Pretend to sleep? 

A few of my customers shared how their Blackberry became habit-forming, where they would sleep with it under their pillows, take it camping with them, and constantly check it even if they were out of signal range.  When apart from their Blackberry, if they could not hear the familiar ring, they would experience phantom vibrations as if the device were reaching out to them through some cerebral tap in their mind.  I started thinking about Blackberry abuse… habit forming… people throwing their lives away to get their Blackberry fix…

I envisioned Blackberry support groups.  “Hello, my name is Glenn Sasscer, and I am a Blackberry user.  I stopped using and I have now been clean for two years…”  Others would clap in my support because they know the struggle.  They know the challenge.  You can see the vacant look in their eyes and the twitch of their thumbs…
 
So, why did I finally allow myself to be smoozed by the Blackberry pusher Verizon salesperson?  The technology and products for the Blackberry finally reached the point where I could recognize a value over the risk of addiction.  That is, the Blackberry product finally reached a point where it had enough features and value that I could use it to improve what I was doing for work without it taking over the rest of my life.  My view on the gadgets has not changed – the Blackberry is still a tool and not the rule in my life.  I use it to communicate, but I do not place the communication through my Blackberry above my in-person communication.

For this purpose, I created a mental list of ways I use this tool:

• I will not answer my Blackberry telephone if I am speaking with you in person, unless it is clearly an emergency.  My conversation with you is more important since you are in-person.  To respond to a message on my Blackberry or answer it would be rude.
• I will not check the Blackberry every 30 seconds to see if someone has sent me a highly critical message.  I will check my Blackberry when it is convenient, or when I need to send something out.  Likewise, if I send something to your Blackberry, I do not expect you to respond until it is convenient.
• I will not answer the Blackberry just because it is ringing – the tool is for my convenience, not the person calling me.  If I am eating dinner with my family, the Blackberry can wait.
• I will not talk on the Blackberry or check messages while driving.  To do so is just silly, dangerous, and very irresponsible.  If you want an example of why, watch the video at the end of this post - but be forewarned: it is a graphic representation of what can happen.
• If I take my Blackberry on vacation, it is turned off until I need it.  If I have it on the weekend, it is for my convenience. 
• And, it is perfectly ok to leave the house without my Blackberry. 

This is my mental list for using my Blackberry, as well as most other gadgets where applicable.  The problem I see with technology is we often forget the gadgets are for our convenience and safety.  We sacrifice our time for the very devices designed to give us more time in life; we sacrifice others for the devices designed to give us more time with them. 

I am interested in being a good steward over the time God has given me to serve Him and serve His children, especially those significant relationships He has brought into my life (such as my wife and children).  I do not believe God has given me life to serve Blackberry. 

I believe Genesis is the absolute truth and the Word of God telling us in 1:27-28, “…God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”  This was the pecking order.  We were given the orders to be the authority in the world, which ended when Adam handed the keys over the Satan in disobedience and sin.

Jesus retrieved the keys and reclaimed authority over the entire world.  We find this in Matthew 28:18-20, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” 

Jesus is the authority now, and He delegates to each of us.  Satan doesn’t much like this and will sabotage God’s plan in whatever way possible.  I believe his strategies include using our own tools against us, wasting our time with trivial matters, and creating obstacles in our significant relationships.  I refuse to allow this to happen, and I hope you will join me.

I do not find my identity in my Blackberry.  I find my identity in Jesus Christ (see above Genesis passage where we are created in His image).  Jesus Christ has a plan and a purpose for me.  I am looking for that plan and purpose, and my goal is to realize the role for which I was created.  I will not find that role inside my Blackberry, but instead by establishing the most significant relationship in my life: the one with Jesus Christ. 

Pray with me: “Lord Jesus, I confess to being a poor steward over my time, energies, and strengths.  I have wasted my talents and skills on trivial matters.  I have been a pitiful steward over my significant relationships, as well as any other relationship You have brought into my life.  I am sincerely sorry.  I ask You to open my eyes and grant the strength to overcome my weaknesses bringing me to this point.  Rescue me from this trap set by the enemy.  Give me eyes to see what You want me to see, ears to hear what You want me to hear, and a heart filled with Your compassion to serve Your kingdom and Your children in my life.  Grant to me the wisdom, understanding, and strength to be a good steward over the tools You have given me, to be a good steward over my talents and skills, and to be a good stewards over the relationships in my life.  Lord, I ask you to bring healing to my relationships.  In Your Holy Name, I pray.  Amen.”

It is time for me to be tough on myself, tough on my tools, tough on my blackberry, and tough enough to be a Christian.  What about you?

Glenn Sasscer

www.glennsasscer.com
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Texting while driving: Video (Warning: Graphic Portrayal.)