Do you remember manual typewriters? If you are over 40, (did I really just type that?) then you probably used one when you learned to type. I was fortunate to have learned to type on an electric typewriter, but I did have to put some time in on a manual “just in case”. Anytime you made a mistake, regardless of the typewriter, you had to use little whiteout sheets in order to make the correction. If it wasn’t lined up just so, then break out the whiteout. That was the early 80’s.
By the late 80’s my electric typewriter and whiteout became a dinosaur with the release of a personal word processor. It was one step up from an electric typewriter with no where near the capabilities of today’s word processors. But, they were the first machines with editing abilities. The best part was being able to store your paper then go back to look it over before you printed it. If you had second thoughts or needed to make an addition to the paper it was easy to do with the edit button. We had the time to really think about what we were writing, in hopes of turning in the best work possible.
I think that is what is lacking today. We often do not stop to really think about what we are doing, saying, writing. There is no discernment, no discretion. There is also no edit button.
Today, taking a boudoir photo to “only” be sent to a boyfriend, may find a young lady’s reputation ruined when that picture is posted online. A spiteful text message to a friend about another person can come back to bite you by the end of the day. Let us also not forget that “big brother” is always watching. We have all seen news or television shows with videos of work place pranks, family moments, or “stupid criminals.” We haven’t even touched on the YouTube phenomenon. Cameras are everywhere, whether it is a security camera or someone’s cell phone.
We all need to face facts – THERE IS NO EDIT BUTTON FOR LIFE. What we text, type, write, say and do is going to be captured somewhere, someway for someone we do not want to see, to see. We don’t have the option of do-overs. Once it is out there – it’s out there.
Many will say that it isn’t fair; our privacy is being invaded. But it is more than just technology capturing an unguarded moment of our lives. We do not have control over everything (particularly the cameras), but we do have control over what we say and do. This is where discernment comes into play.
Discernment is being able to judge well, to be able to make good decisions. Other words associated with discernment are discriminating, wisdom, insight, and perception. A Titus 2 Woman is to be discreet, which indicates an ability to exhibit discernment in actions and speech. However, we see a growing lack of discernment in not only our young people, but in the adults as well. We see daily that people no longer feel compelled to be respectful to others, to esteem someone else better than themselves. (Philippians 2:3, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.) We have a generation (or two) who sees that the needs (and wants) of the individual come first. Often this is exhibited by posting obscene, angry or bitter messages or raunchy and racy pictures without any consideration of how others may be affected or how those things may affect them in the future.
Ecclesiastes 8:1-5: 1Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
2I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
3Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
4Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.
