Technology

Like most people I have a love – hate relationship with technology. I love it when it works and I feel like a complete loser when I can’t figure something out. Luckily for me I am surrounded by many people who can help out and we have a brilliant and readily available computer genius who is, as I say to him …sort of in jest … on “speed dial”. When we have a computer problem at the church we just call Laurie and he sorts us out in no time flat.

I tell you all this because at this time last week I was having computer problems. Turns out it was a defunct webcam that had to be replaced. I wanted it working so that I could connect through Skype to our Syrian family who are currently living in Iraq. We have developed a good friendship through emails and Hassan suggested we should Skype as it is easier to talk when we can see one another. He is right. I have now seen their apartment and I have been able to show them our house. I have introduced them to the other folks who work at the church and last Sunday morning the congregation at our early service got to meet the whole family. On Tuesday our ‘Refugee Team’ was able to spend and hour-and-a-half visiting over Skype and in that conversation we were able to hear their story and learn about their present living conditions.

Technology has been a great asset as we build relationship with this family who are half way around the world and separated in time zones by 7 hours. Through the magic of technology, we can sit and chat with them as if they were in the same room. Amazing.

In our conversations I am learning a great deal from them. The political circumstance and violence that has them fleeing their homeland, some of their favourite foods, what family life and culture is like in Syria, to name just a few things.

They are now observing Ramadan – the Muslim period of fasting and reflection. For this month they fast from eating during the day – from dawn to dusk. They spend time in prayer and reading the Koran. ‘Iftar’, the meal at sundown when they can break the fast, is one longed for during the day as hunger builds. Hassan even sent a couple of photos of some of their delicious looking Syrian food. Ramadan has some parallels to the Christian period of Lent in that it is a time to reflect on how to live a better life and be a better person with a focus on kindness and generosity.

Technology has certainly made the world a smaller place and it is an asset to building relationship and community. If only all people could use it for good and see it as a tool for strengthening who we are as a global community.