Jana Lee
CBF Field Personnel, Larcana, Cyprus
“We are hardwired to connect with others; it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it there is suffering.”
—Brené Brown
What is saving my life right now? To be honest, technology is saving my life. To be more specific, the ability to communicate with and through technology.
Right now, I am thousands and thousands of miles away from my family and long-term friends. The ability to talk with them as much as possible is a constant blessing in my life. The ability to share updates from my life and hear all about theirs keeps me going when I am missing them. The ability to share all my emotions from afar is needed. From a simple text or voice note on WhatsApp to a Zoom call that lasts hours, they all make me happy and keep me going. Sharing a happy moment from my day lifts my spirits more than I can say. Venting about stressful or sad days encourages me to not keep the hard parts of life to myself.
Along with keeping up with my forever friends and family, technology also gives me the ability to connect and meet new people here in my new place of work. It creates the opportunity to share pictures, articles, ideas and resources from so many people. Everyone knows how frustrating or mind-numbing technology can be at times. But I am forever grateful for how it keeps me connected to the people I need in my life.
Pray, Practice, Ponder
The practice of reaching out or staying in touch takes effort in our fast-paced, information-crazed world. To develop life-giving bonds, we must prioritize connection.
How do you practice staying connected to systems of support—family and friends near and far. Do you think this can be seen not just as a relational practice, but as a spiritual one?