12th December
Digital, Interrupted
Our digital connectivity is amazing, isn't it?
It connects people across countries and cultures. I love the fact, for example, that I'm able to speak to you now through this video and through social media.
Of course, we need to ensure that our digital habits don't take over. We've all seen that family, or perhaps even been that family that sits around the dinner table on their phones, not talking to each other, and we need to guard against this, particularly at Christmas, which is meant to be a time of togetherness.
But I recently heard a talk on the question, would Jesus have used TikTok?
The simple answer was yes, definitely. The speaker pointed out that Jesus will undoubtedly have seen the enormous potential to reach people where they were in their homes, in their workplaces, and all around the world. And I know from personal experience that digital connections can be really profound.
In my latest book To The Ocean Floor, I describe how, nearing the end of lockdown, I was diagnosed with cancer for a second time. As the world opened up after the pandemic, I went into isolation, unable to be with my family, attend church, or to meet friends for prayer. I was, however, able to join a weekly online Christian healing mission prayer meeting. And during these Zoom prayer sessions, I had an extraordinary encounter with Jesus who walked me through the waters, held me in the depths of my illness, and ultimately brought me safely to shore.
There are far too many people who will be isolated this Christmas, so if you know someone for whom this might be true, either in the UK or somewhere else, why don't you disrupt your Christmas day for a moment and use this amazing digital connectivity to reach out to someone who might be lonely, reminding them of God's great love, kindness, and compassion.
