But Newport is right, I believe, in his assessment that new digital media is the dopamine fix of our day that if we allow it to run amuck in our lives, we will lose our sense of self and our touch with the mystery of the world (he doesn\u2019t use the word \u201cmystery\u201d but he could have). And he\u2019s right that we are moving further away from natural experiences of solitude that enter our imaginations when we are without our devices: \u201c\u2026 Regular doses of solitude, mixed in with our default mode of sociality, are necessary to flourish as a human being. It\u2019s more urgent now than ever that we recognize this fact, because, as I\u2019ll argue next, for the first time in human history solitude is starting to fade away altogether.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\n The purpose of solitude, however, is not to make us more productive and efficient, but to draw us into Communion with God, out of which can flow a life of wholeness and flourishing. As Christians, we would do well to see that our digital environment can be a threat to our lives of faith if we are not mindful to apply what Newport has suggested.<\/p>\n Henri Nouwen was keenly aware that without solitude we suffer from intense loneliness. The problem with the digital world is that we then turn to it to take away our loneliness, which only makes us more lonely. It\u2019s a destructive cycle. To practice solitude is to face one\u2019s loneliness only in order to pass through it. On the other side of solitude is the realization that we are not actually alone. Soon, we discover our sense of self and our belovedness from being in communion with God. Then, our felt need to turn to Facebook can naturally fade. Nouwen said it best himself:<\/p>\n All human beings are alone. No other person will completely feel like we do, think like we do, act like we do. Each of us is unique, and our aloneness is the other side of our uniqueness. The question is whether we let our aloneness become loneliness or whether we allow it to lead us into solitude. Loneliness is painful; solitude is peaceful. Loneliness makes us cling to others in desperation; solitude allows us to respect others in their uniqueness and create community. Letting our aloneness grow into solitude and not into loneliness is a lifelong struggle. It requires conscious choices about whom to be with, what to study, how to pray, and when to ask for counsel. But wise choices will help us to find the solitude where our hearts can grow in love.[2]<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The little Presbyterian church where I currently serve is a country-type little church in a little town called Summerland. The sanctuary seats about 50 people total, and there is an overflow room which seats the other 60 or so. We have no screens in our sanctuary. Now if you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019m going to take this moment to spend the next twenty minutes in silent, centering prayer…using my centering prayer app on my phone. J<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/38dd37cc-ea5e-4f54-a9f5-7a9efb395acd-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a>We use hymnals and paper. I love it that my kids sit with me in the pew in church and they get to learn how to use and sing from the old hymnal. It\u2019s kind of nostalgic, but the tradition is important to me. There\u2019s not a lot of assistance other than the musicians. We all sing and everyone\u2019s voices can be heard. We do not depend on the perceived reliability of new digital technology to worship God (other than the sound board). There\u2019s a timeless feel to the service that I feel is needed in an age of historical amnesia. The best part of the service is toward the beginning, when after the tolling of the bell and the call to worship, the liturgist prepares the congregation for a time of silence and solitude for about one minute. We are encouraged to sit up straight, take three slow deep breaths, place our hands in an open posture, and we sit in silent prayer together for 1-2 minutes in order to open our hearts. I think this simple practice in worship is a counter-cultural response to the noise that Newport understands has encompassed our world.<\/p>\n