Many years ago, I participated in a one-day summer mission workday that our church organized / sponsored. It was there that I met (arguably) my now BFF (in-person). I've written about him prior for he made / continues to make a lasting impact on Rob. Mostly, in light of his loyalty / trust / small-town values / outlook combined with his sweet demeanor and hyper masculine physique / demeanor / appearance.
With a beautiful wife and multiple children, our family quickly welcomed them with open arms (not long after our aforementioned initial, missional juncture), and from there, they expectantly joined the church without looking back.
This family is on the up & up in regard to higher education / demographics, and this upwardly mobile movement warms our heart. But as is typical (seemingly of every western family), screens (television, smartphones, tablets) are a huge part of their existence.
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My BFF's oldest child is a brilliant creative. She's polite and poised yet tremendously uncomfortable in most social settings. To the point that it's almost painful to be in her presence due to how obvious it is to everyone around her.
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A deceased uncle of mine (my childhood memory of him), in many ways, reminds me of my (in-person) BFF. Even his wife (my aunt) too exemplifies his spouse. And yes, worshipping at the altar of the screen (remember, this was the '80s) whilst rearing their two children under that watchful electronic eye(s) was absolutely their (& everyone else's) modus operandi. I can remember, as a teen, homing in on their exceedingly lackadaisical approach to policing media consumption. It was especially painful / worrisome to observe when my cousins were little tykes. Therein, the television was never switched off (they fell asleep in front of it each night).
And I get that they lived in deeply isolated rural MS, but still, TV hasn't been around for that long... In other words, it's a fairly new phenomenon in the grand scheme of things. As such, even then, I couldn't fathom why it was allowed to influence with reckless abandon.
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Here recently, a distinct digital nightmare was discovered within my BFF's household, having crept at the door, waiting patiently to be ushered in.
As such, as of late, it's been all-hands-on-deck as it pertains to the family's oldest child.
Let this be a warning to all of us. For no amount of wishful thinking can return this clan to their hopeful innocence / carefree approach to screen life as a collective. D-day has come and no attempt to whitewash it will ever change that.
We live in very dark times, my friends. And yes, they're coming for your children. Starting, first & foremost, with the technology companies / bros who bank everything on us parents willingly offering up our children to the screen gods.
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