Free Us from the Flickering Image

>> Canada Files: Day 081

I love the freedom to experiment with new technologies in worship that being in GOHOP affords. Most recently, this involved creating improvised visuals during a prayer set. This is a screengrab of a great package called Resolume.

But I sense a warning in this. We live in a world filled with flickering images. Neil Postman, in his 1985 book "Amusing Ourselves to Death" warned of the dangers for a generation weaned on flickering images. He warned of how overstimulation desensitizes us, and programs us to become passive and unresponsive, and may even impair mentional functioning.

So how can this technology be harnessed for good, and not just to amuse or entertain?

So here is a "visual prayer" - perhaps the cry of my own heart that we don't just make things worse, or push people further into passivity, but rather take this technology captive for the glory of God in our time. Maybe it's also a kind of visual intercession - the cry of a generation trapped in a cycle of overstimulation and addiction.

A Prayer in 2 Languages (verbal and visual) Lord, set me free from the flickering image And the addicition to constant stimulation. Still the inner noise so that I can be still enough To discern the things that matter.

Comments

[Gavin]

Visual prayer, ya what ? What happen to closing your eyes and worshiping the Lord.

How does that song go by Switchfoot, 'if we are adding to the noise, turn off this song' etc...

Less noise more Jesus.

[Richard]

My post answers your question ... the visual prayer is a heart cry and a prayer of intercession.

There is a place for switching off and going to the secret place too.

Anyway, closing my eyes does not shut out images!

So yes, the content of this visual prayer challenges its own medium ... to follow your point through, Switchfoot should not be playing that song in the first place, because they are having to make a noise to make their point, which contradicts their message!

[wilsonian]

Richard! I've obviously been out of the loop for a while. I pop back in to find that you're living 45 min. up the road from me. I'd love to meet up some time!

-Erin
wilsonian905ATgmailDOTcom