heart sisters book club: chapter 7

If you are just joining us for the Heart Sisters: Be the Friend You Want to Have  Book Club (book by Natalie Chambers Snapp), please click HERE to begin at Chapter One.

Thirty times an hour. The number of times people check their e-mail in our current day society. It seems impossible, but when we really take a step back and think about how accessible smartphones and tablets and other gadgets have made us, it’s not so much a stretch of the imagination any more.

How is it that something like technology can consume so much of our lives?

In Chapter 7 of her book, Natalie explores both the good and the bad of our technology-enabled world and its impact on relationships.

Because “God has wired us to connect and communicate,” responsible use of technology can be such a benefit to our relationships, enabling us to connect quickly and efficiently with friends. It’s also a way to share our faith broadly and boldly, with audiences that we might not otherwise have access to or influence with.

But, like all tools (and I love the emphasis that Natalie puts on technology being the “tool” – not the message or the relationship itself), its power rests in the hands of the users. That’s us, sisters. We can use tools like email and texting and Facebook and Twitter to strengthen relationships. But we can use the same tools to tear them down.

Like any “good” thing, too much technology can reap negative consequences. Natalie explores three.

Technology reduces the amount of time that we spend interacting with those around us.

Technology helps us to spread lies more efficiently.

Technology can be addictive.

But there is a way out.

Natalie shares a seven-step acrostic to help us shift the focus of our technology use from behaviors that are addictive and damaging to practices that are supportive and sustaining. It comes by being P.R.E.S.E.N.T.

Prioritize.

Rest.

Ease in.

Set boundaries.

Explain.

Never make others feel guilty.

Type away!

The chapter ends with practical suggestions for how to navigate technology – what to consider before you use one over the other (for example, email over text) and how to exhibit “behavior-grace” when you are navigating relationships via technology.

Let’s explore some of the questions that Natalie poses with this chapter.

1. In what ways has technology helped your relationships? What ways has it inhibited your relationships? 
2. Have you ever received a “zinger” e-mail? How did you respond? Would you do it differently today? 
3. Have you ever been unfriended on Facebook? How did it make you feel? On the other hand, have you ever had to unfriend someone? Why? 
4. Do you think you need to implement the P.R.E.S.E.N.T. process? If so, which step seems to tackle your greatest area of need? 
5. Is there someone you can invite to your home this week? Get it scheduled, sister!

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Join us Thursday, June 25, 2015 for Chapter 8!

Written by Melissa.