Exposure

There is little doubt that we as a society suffer from too much exposure, and sometimes we are the architect of it.

The recent information about the government's intrusion into our cell phone usage has pitted against one another those who think that we should use anything to protect ourselves from terrorism and those who think that our right to privacy comes first.  When the Patriot Act was passed by Congress, it was in the wake of 9/11 and everyone was afraid.  And there were those who felt at the time that it was a mistake.  At this point, what we do know is that the release of cell phone records had to do with the numbers that we call, when we call, and how long we talk.  It did not include the wiretapping of the content of the calls.  Still, pretty creepy.

And yet, when left to our own devices, given Facebook, tweeting, and the like, we blab way too much.  You might even say that this blog is way too much, but honestly, I don't reveal anything that I wouldn't tell a stranger.  That's kind of the rule in the back of my mind.  And while we're talking about tweets and Facebook, I don't tell the world that I'm leaving for the store or that I had a dentist appointment or that I'm running late for something.  Who cares?  The people who read the various tweets and postings probably don't either, but they don't want to hurt feelings, ya know.

This "open book" to our lives has a cost.  What are we missing while we are tweeting and reading tweets?  What about the supposed real relationships in our lives that are relegated to second place while we stay connected to the world?  What about the give and take of normal conversations face-to-face?  What about mannerisms and manners?  Research has shown that the ability to communicate properly and well suffers because people today, particularly children, don't do it enough.

The ability to say things about others and then hide behind a made-up screen name is what often constitutes the bullying that we are hearing so much about. 

Backbiting is what we used to call it when I was a kid -- or talking behind someone's back.  Everyone does it now and again, but it can become a bad habit to the point where more time is being spent on what others are doing from a "superior" standpoint. 

Life in a small town used to insulate people from the world to a degree.  Ask anyone who grew up in the 50s, 60s, 70s or even 80s about their childhood.  Those who were raised in a large city had a much different experience than those from small town America.  Once the revolutionary communication devices took hold, even a small town could not hope to hold the tide back.  Of course, there are parents who have a no-cell-phone rule.  Schools often have a no-cell-phone rule or at least a rule that the phones have to stay in the locker during the day.  At colleges and universities, the professor often makes an announcement the first day of class about cell phone usage. 

And life in a small town is still remarkably special, cell phones or not.  It just seems apropos to mention that with all of the communication devices we might have, shouldn't that free us up to speak to and listen to our Creator a little more?  With all of the labor-saving devices we have, shouldn't they free us up to speak to and listen to our Creator more?

That's the real crux of free will.  We make the choice of what we are going to do.  Every single day.