by Rob Hueniken on Sunday, July 18, 2010
Perhaps the most apparent feature of our society is our use of technology. Whether it is cell phones, high def TV, MRI scanners or air bags, technology surrounds us and is embedded into our lives. Everywhere you go you see people using devices — if there's a gizmo then people are using it.
There is, of course, money to be made creating and using technology, and jobs and benefits for many people.
There are busy and industrious people inventing devices, refining them, and bringing them to market. There are legions of truckers and sales people providing them to us, and people helping us figure out how to use our many gadgets and tools.
At the back-end, there is a service and support industry, and at the tail-end there are recyclers, dust bins, and growing piles in the corners of our basements and drawers.
It would be easy to imagine that our technology has a life of its own — being born, growing, fitting in, working with others, having occasional health problems, and finding that people don't call on them as often as they'd like.
Technology is vital to many aspects of every day, and we have threaded it deeply through our lives.
But at its core, our use of technology is about more than money and far more than our own individual use of gadgets.
Technology is about life and community. Our tools are the extra means we use to keep us safe, healthy, and together. Our tools are the means for sharing our lives and reducing the distances and risks. Our tools are how we, as family and friends, get to expand our reach beyond our fingertips and to widen our personal and shared horizons.
The purpose of technology is community.
[Return to the home page of MakingMoreOfToday.com.]
Tagged as:
cellphones,
community,
gadgets,
gizmos,
Life,
society,
technology
by Rob Hueniken on Sunday, May 9, 2010
In celebration of Mother's Day:
|
The heart symbol represents both life and love. This heart-in-a-heart symbol is a baby growing within its mother, and the loving arms that long to hold us close forever.
|
|
In the beginning, God created not just the universe, but also life and love.
Today we celebrate Mothers, whose bodies enable life and whose spirit helps love grow.
Mothers are God's most obvious agents of life and love, and we honor them, today and every day.
Thank you, Mom, for life and love.
|
[Return to the home page of MakingMoreOfToday.com.]
Tagged as:
enable life,
family,
help love grow,
Life,
life and love,
Love,
mother,
Mother's Day
by Rob Hueniken on Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Each of us have birds native to their area of the world. The two birds that I love the most are the North American Robin and the Red Tailed Hawk.
The robin is a gentle bird — happy to co-exist with people on the lawns of Eastern North America. This year, I saw my first robin in my own backyard, on March 9th, amidst the melting snow piles. It was sharing space with a black squirrel, with both of them probing the early Spring lawn for something to eat. At one point the robin and squirrel were within 2 feet of each other, and neither was troubled in the least. In fact, I have never seen a squirrel and robin interact, let alone quarrel.
By the time summer fully arrives there will be thousands of robins across our city, using their hopping motion to move around the yard in search of worms to pry up, either for themselves or their little ones. That robins also lay beautiful, light-blue eggs is another reason I like them.
Robins are independent. Unlike other "city" birds like pigeons and geese, they won’t badger you for a snack. They can get their own, thank you very much!
The robin will happily co-exist with humans. Cars don’t startle them (unless you drive onto the lawn) and walking by a robin gets you only a brief glance — you have to be closer than 10 feet to get what I would call a wary glance from a robin. This makes the robin a wonderful companion, and a great way for children to enjoy nature up close and at its most peaceful.
The joy of robins is that they are calm. In that way they are a role model for all of us.
They know there is food to be had. They know most people ignore them. They know they have few enemies, and rarely have to flee. They are good fliers, and can move to a fresh lawn any time they wish. They also have fun: flying like acrobats, standing on tree branches, and singing.
Robins are also unique in their community styles. They are often on their own, and seem quite content with that. When they find a mate they are dutiful in building a nest and finding food for the young ones. And they can also be seen in larger groups, particularly in the autumn when they are getting ready to migrate south to find warmer worms.
I love robins. They are calm, close, and beautiful singers.
Robins make me feel that nature loves me too.
[Return to the home page of MakingMoreOfToday.com.]
Tagged as:
American Robin,
birds,
calm,
Life,
Nature,
robin,
singer,
squirrel
