"Oh boy, oh BOY, I'm getting one of those smart phones."
I now put my quote from Monday into my "Famous Last Words" file on Friday.
It came, I saw, IT conquered (Acronym pun intended). Why do I feel like the loser in the epic battle between people/God and stuff? Because I have now logged 16 hours and still don't know how to send a text my grandson, connect with FB and Twitter, or even push cool stuff all over the screen with my thumbs like they do on TV.
Is this just one of those whiney issues when I couldn't come up with a post? Sure it is. But this carping by an old man came naturally into my mind this morning. I was writing the introduction to my book last night and this morning (I'll post it on the "more" page). I wrote something like this:
Bringing families back to the Waltons and Little House is not our goal. We are suggesting alternatives to lifestyles and values that have drawn all of us away from heart connections. Facebook, blogging, and tweets are something adult readers of the book have had to acquire. Some of our contemporaries have chosen to stay out of the electronic world. They’re still busy, but on other stuff, some of it old fashioned (reading, hiking, trail rides, visiting--"real" face-to-face visiting with neighbors and church friends).
But our 12-year olds have no noticeable learning curve. They just do it. All of it. All the time…which is where the trouble is. It greases the rails to the slow but unmistakable disintegration of what used to be family life. We used to meet at Uncle Bill’s and Aunt Sally’s every month or so. Almost the whole extended family. Now that they’ve moved out in the countryside without WiFi signal, we don’t go there much, even though they have a very cool grassy yard that goes right down to the river.
My 16 hours is just the first installment. I must have that much more yet ahead of me before I stop calling accidentally or cutting off calls or responding to Taylor's test.
SO, LET ME ASK: IS THIS WORTH IT, ALL THIS CHANGING RELATIONSHIP STYLES TO "FIT IN," ESPECIALLY WITH THE YOUNGINS IN THE FAMILY I HAVE SUCH A PASSION FOR?
"YES?" "NO?" "DEPENDS?" Make a quick comment. Young guys to old guys. Give us your take on fathering electronically and it's effect on our LEGACY.
Gary
[Here's a completely optional idea. If you'd like to read and render an opinion on my Introduction for Generational Fathering and tell me if it is too fancy or literary for a cowboy with a serious legacy message for Christian fathers. Go to my special Face Book page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_215096958505179&ap=1 ]
It starts out with lyrics from a Clay Crosse ballad:
Give him roots, and give him wingsAnd he'll grow up to do great thingsLet him know the joy that he bringsTeach him the value of the truthOh you gotta give him roots, give him wings