Tuesday, October 27, 2015

morning invitations * reconsider

Eric Pickersgill

Yeah, we might be side by side but we're completely disconnected ... and most certainly unavailable in the truest sense of the word.

We're somewhere else and our body language says it all.

And even if we do exchange a couple of words, our souls aren't resonating because our attention is captured by some random person or a created image from a distant place.

Photographer Eric Pickersgill removed all the smart phones and digital devices from a recently published series of photos.  And what remains will take your breath away.

And not in the best sense of the word ...

It's all so surreal, unsettling, scary.  This, a sad, alarming wake-up call.  For sure.

Go ahead.  Tell me we're not addicted.

Check out this startling photographic project ...

And then head over to one of my favorite blogs, No Sidebar, and this week's article, The Key to Simplifying Your Digital Life.  We're talking super-practical, common sense, must-reading ...


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22 comments:

  1. I saw this someplace else recently. It's very powerful.

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    1. It kinda took my breath away, for sure, Kara ...

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  2. Wow, his photos tell a startling story. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Wow, wow, wow, wow did that speak to me. I can't wait to show the family.........except now I'll have to (gulp) admit Mike was right................

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    1. Yep, the man is right on, Val!

      Tell him I said 'hi!'

      ;-}

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  4. Wow, Linda. I saw this the other day. It was tough to look at!! We're cracking down in this house for certain! God > Family > Friends > Stuff. Wonderful share today:)

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    1. I'd love to hear how this plays out for your family, Meg. This ain't easy ... especially for the next generation 'cause it's all they've known! At least we have a vague remembrance of what life looked like back in the day ...

      ;-}

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  5. Texting whilst doing something else can be so dangerous. Last time I did this I fell down the stairs. In hospital I was asked: Did you miss a step?

    I replied: No, I hit every one of them.

    God bless.

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    1. Trust you to bring a bit of humor to the table, Victor!

      haha!

      ;-}

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  6. We are SO addicted, it's scary. I saw that image on FB, I think last week and thought, 'This is what we have people have become.' We need to wake up, myself included.

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    1. Your words are unsettling, but so true, Alecia ... 'This is what we have people have become.'

      Jesus came to set us free from all yokes of slavery. Who would have guessed that this would be one of them ...

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  7. Photos were unique. The only think I have is a phone. My struggle is as a pastor where do I draw the line? I am "expected" to be available 24 hours a day. Makes it heard.

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    1. Good point, Bill ... too many churches expect a 24/7 pastor availability.

      But what else is new? Has the cell phone really changed that? What's your experience?

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  8. Linda,
    Kind of ironic that I was looking as these pictures while I was staring at my laptop?! When my husband and I went on our honeymoon we left all forms of technology behind. We went to an island destination popular with newlyweds of all ages. I was flabbergasted at the number of newlywed couple who were sitting next to each other but gawking at their smartphones. Made me want to go and pluck them out of their hands and toss them in the ocean and say, "Talk to each other!" Am I showing my age?!
    Blessings on a much needed reminder...
    Bev

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    1. Gawking at their smartphones ... I know you weren't aiming to be funny, Bev, but those words strung together made me crack up. You'd think they'd be gawking at each other.

      Yikes. What a mess we are!

      ;-{

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  9. Hello, Linda. Wow, what a startling and terribly sad photo series, huh? Thanks for this reminder.

    On that note... I'm off to sit beside my son.

    Jennifer Dougan
    www.jenniferdougan.com

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  10. this is SO true! ugh, I think we are all guilty to some degree...

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    1. Yep, so true. And we give ourselves grace to move ahead a bit stronger and wiser!

      ;-}

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  11. Very enlightening and scary! That is all I see around me if I am intent on looking. I admit that I too can get caught up in this craze. Thanks for being real!

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    1. I hear you, Mary ... I'm going to remember Eric's project as I move ahead. To say I'm convicted would be an understatement ...

      ;-{

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