ART OWES ITS ORIGIN TO NATURE HERSELF… THIS BEAUTIFUL CREATION, THE WORLD, SUPPLIED THE FIRST MODEL, WHILE THE ORIGINAL TEACHER WAS THAT DIVINE INTELLIGENCE WHICH HAS NOT ONLY MADE US SUPERIOR TO THE OTHER ANIMALS, BUT LIKE GOD HIMSELF, IF I MAY VENTURE TO SAY IT.

GIORGIO VASARI

Technology is both a help and a hindrance. Great when it works, not so great when it does not. However, different forms of technology are imbedded into our daily lives – in work, our home life, our holidays. Technology is moving and developing quicker than ever before. It is taking over the world. Or is it? Fortunately for us, most technology operates off electricity or battery which means we can always pull the plug or hit the off switch. We oversee the life of these devices, not the technology.

We sometimes forget that God is the creator of all life, not just humankind. Whatever ‘life’ we give to anything whether it be a vacuum cleaner, a phone or a computer – whatever, it is short lived because it does not have the capabilities of eternal life.

Our life has been passed on to us from our parents and those who have gone before us and if you keep going back, to the origin, we all came from the same original life giver. Look around. Nature, creation, fauna & flora, other humans. We are surrounded by the natural life of God, even down to the smallest annoying mosquito buzzing around our head at night. It too has life, given to it by God. God is always and ultimately, the giver of life.

Take time to look around each day, observe all that is there, both natural and humanly created.

Observe what you can control and what you cannot and be thankful for the free gifts that are gifted to you to enjoy a beautiful life.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• When was the last time you had a technology free day?
• How do you feel when you spend a day surrounded by natural creation and why do you think you feel this way?

From: Firewood for the soul, vol. 1, A Reflexion Book for the Whole Vincentian Family
St. Vincent de Paul Society, Queensland, Australia.
Text by: Samantha Hill.