“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”  (Hebrews 10:25)

I recently watched the movie Sully. The 2016 film followed the January, 2009 emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River orchestrated by pilots Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles. The flight which had just taken off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport struck a flock of birds, disabling both engines after just three minutes in the air. All 155 passengers and crew survived with only minor injuries, creating a highly-publicized event referred to as “The Miracle on the Hudson.” What was not significantly emphasized at the time was the subsequent investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board which became the focus of the movie. The investigation centered on several computerized simulations demonstrating that the plane could have landed safely without engines at either of two nearby airports. Sully argued that these simulations were unrealistic because they contained pre-programmed knowledge allowing for immediate reaction to the emergency and not providing any time for real life decision-making. Once additional time was added for these ‘human factor’ considerations, the Board concluded the Sully acted responsibly thus saving the lives of everyone aboard.

In this movie, as with many situations, the age-old question of knowledge vs wisdom comes into play. Alfred Lloyd Tennyson once stated that “Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.” Computers will only give us the information for which they were programmed, once defined by the expression “garbage in, garbage out.” Likewise, the automated digital assistant ‘Siri’ and the voice control system known as ‘Alexa’ can provide all sorts of data to you simply for the asking. They are knowledgeable, and their statistics and facts will often enable the immediate gratification required. However, they lack wisdom and most of all – the warmth of humankind.  Alexa can’t hold our hand, give us a hug, or wipe our tears when we are sad. Rightfully so, but should it concern us that there seems to be a trend in our society to move away from personal interactions in order that our needs might be satisfied more expeditiously?

Since we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and He calls us into fellowship with Him (1 Corinthians 1:9), we should be cautious about the depersonalization of our lives permeating many aspects of our culture. Not that long ago, it was commonplace to patronize the stores of the local merchants. There you chatted with storeowners who lived in your town and were vested in the community. While you shopped or walked from store to store – you would have a good chance of running into people you knew, perhaps engaging in good conversation.  Soon those stores became replaced by larger retailers which located in the suburbs, but even there were workers who continued to provide some level of human interaction. Now it has become easier to do our shopping online. Soon drones will be able to deliver our package in thirty minutes or less. Do we really need most of what we order that quickly? What do we sacrifice in the process of gaining this convenience? When we absent the human factor from more and more of our interactions, we can’t help but also move a little further from God.

God’s Word provides wise counsel in this regard.  The Apostle Paul said, “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours” (Romans 1:11-12). One might argue that encouragement can come via a text or a tweet. While that may be so, there are limitations. Jesus Himself stated: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). The gathering is being devalued as the human factor becomes less and less. In the early days of the church – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). These days our devotion is to our hand-held devices, rationalizing that when we lack information they will make us wise. James would refute that message as he tells us – “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you” (James 1:5). What a novel idea!

REFLECTION: As you look back over recent months and years, consider ways that you have become less interactive with others.  Have you restricted your own knowledge base while becoming more reliant on electronic devices? How might you grow through more involvement with others and God’s Word?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JANUARY 14, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.