The most important invention in my lifetime may not be something we hold in our hands, but something we live inside of every day: the internet.
It has changed how we learn, how we communicate, how we work, and how we tell our stories. With a few keystrokes, we can access information that once required libraries, time, and travel. We can stay connected to loved ones across distance and share moments that might otherwise be missed.
And yet, this invention is not without its weight.
The internet brings voices closer, but it can also amplify noise. It offers connection, yet sometimes leaves us feeling more isolated. It gives us answers quickly, while quietly challenging our ability to wait, wonder, and sit with what we do not know.
How are we being shaped by what we consume so easily?
The internet itself is not good or bad – it is powerful. And power, like all gifts, requires wisdom. We are called to use it in ways that reflect love, truth, and presence, rather than fear or division.
Perhaps the invitation is not to step away entirely, but to step back occasionally – to choose intention over impulse, listening over reacting, and depth over speed.
Even in a world that moves quickly, God still speaks softly.
God of wisdom,
Thank You for the tools that connect us and expand our understanding.
Help us use them with care, humility, and love.
Teach us when to engage and when to rest,
when to listen and when to be still.
Guard our hearts from distraction and division,
and anchor us in what is true and life-giving.
May we remain present to You and to one another,
even in a digital world.
Amen.
The Prayer Porch 