Reuters recently reported that a South Korean company has developed an application for the iPhone which mimics human companionship. Four times a day, users receive a video message from their virtual “friend”. The face on the screen coos messages like, “Good night, sweet dreams.” According to the news report, the company believes that the program will “help subscribers feel someone cares for them and is consistently thinking of them.” Business has been brisk. The application costing $1.99 was downloaded 80,000 times on the first day that it was offered.
“There’s an app for that” is the mantra of our brave new world. Still, there are things that even our smart phones will never be able to do. Human family, friendship and community can never find a substitution. The concern of imaginary people cannot match the care of someone reaching out in love. Even the explosive success of Facebook and other social media suggests a hunger for community, not a replacement. From the early pages of Genesis, even God states that is not good for man to be alone.
In this highly technical and highly individualized society, our search for God matches our times. Spirituality becomes our choice. Like an Ipod playlist of our favorite music, we pick and choose what we believe from a variety of genres and styles. Each choice, however, reinforces our own preferences. We are content to listen on our own earbuds to our own music. Still, something remains missing. A set of beliefs cannot care for someone.
Rather than an individual choice, God is a person, actually three persons, yet one: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Through Jesus Christ, we are ushered into that relationship. Our faith itself is nurtured in a community called the Church. The love of God draws us together in the Holy Spirit. We work, study and pray together. Spirituality cannot be done in isolation. We need each other in order to grow in faith.
On January 21-23, 2011, the Ardmore Presbyterian Church will explore this theme at our third annual Spiritual Enrichment Retreat. Led by Rev. Graham Standish, we will see how faith is developed in community, Dr. David Wallace returns as we reflect on our fellowship in music, even our children will be involved in their own program. In this month’s newsletter you will find more information about this wonderful opportunity. Join the church on January 21-23, and let us be community to one another. Accept no imitation.
