Touch

It wasn't that long ago that you could navigate the world by touch. And strange as it may seem in a world that is literally at our fingertips, that is no longer true. 

Yes, we have touch screens. And apps. And things we have to navigate with our fingers, but if you really pay attention, all of these things require sight - not touch. Touch is just the method; sight is the engagement. 

I first had this realization about 11 years ago when I bought my first smartphone. I didn't really want a smartphone, but after being stranded roadside in the middle of nowhere, I saw the usefulness of a sophisticated map app, so I made the switch. And immediately, I recognized that in case of emergency, I would not have the slightest idea how to call for help. 

With my old phone, if I were able to even reach the phone at all, my fingers would be able to feel for the buttons, and I would be able to find the 9-1-1 and dial for help. With a smartphone, the entire screen feels the same. I think there's a way to voice activate something, maybe, but eleven years later, I still haven't figured that out. But give me a real touchpad, and I could still dial for help. 

I had a similar revelation when my household switched from traditional cable television to a streaming service (because cable was being phased out in my area from my provider). It used to be that in the middle of the night, if I woke up to infomercials, I could pick up the remote, tap a couple of numbers without even looking at them, and switch it to a trusty, reliable channel with programming more suited for sleeping. 

Not with streaming. With streaming, I have to make visual contact with the screen in order to scroll through and find the appropriate channel. Again, I think they are coming up with voice options for this, but the setup I currently have is not designed for this, and I'm not sure I would use it anyway. 

Because remember - we are all already weary of automated voice systems that have us screaming "talk to a representative!" at our phones and still not being understood. 

Face it - we are living in a visual world, one that can no longer be navigated except by sight. 

And....I think that's why fidgets are so popular.

As much as we want to say that we are a digital people, a people who have progressed in our relationship to technology and who now dwell firmly in its realm, the truth is that we are all still looking for something to do with our hands. We are not meant to live by sight alone. 

What did Jesus say? Blessed are those who have not seen.... there is more to our being than our visual acuity. 

We were made to taste, to smell, to hear, to touch the world, and the fact that we can't stop looking for something to do with our hands only reinforces this. 

I miss the world that I could navigate by touch. I miss being able to reach over and control my world just by feeling it. I miss having the sensitivity to notice the subtle changes in texture happening all around it. 

And truthfully, my eyes are tired. They are. In a world in which we spend our whole day engaging by vision, my eyes are just exhausted. I can't wait to close them at the end of the day.

One of the new catchphrases of the day is "Touch grass," and it's often said a little tongue-in-cheek, sometimes judgmentally, sometimes as a chastisement. But it's got some truth to it. We all need to touch grass...and a whole lot more. 

When was the last time you truly touched something...besides your screen?