ANALOG CHRISTIAN

CULTIVATING CONTENTMENT, RESILIENCE, AND WISDOM IN THE DIGITAL AGE

JAY Y. KIM

foreword by DAN KIMBALL

An imprint of InterVarsity Press

Downers Grove, Illinois

InterVarsity Press

P.O. Box 1400 | Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426

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©2022 by Jay Y. Kim

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While any stories in this book are true, some names and identifying information may have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Tree 1, Tree 2, and Tree 3 figures used on the part pages are used with permission, courtesy of Jessie Barnes.

Figure 4.1 folded by and used with permission of Nguyen Nam Sơn.

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Cover design and image composite: David Fassett

ISBN 978-1-5140-0317-6 (digital)

ISBN 978-1-5140-0316-9 (print)

For Harper,

my favorite author.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD BY DAN KIMBALL

INTRODUCTION | DIGITAL SMOKE, ANALOG AIR, AND FRUIT

PART I: CULTIVATING CONTENTMENT

1 | LOVE INSTEAD OF SELF-CENTRIC DESPAIR

2 | JOY INSTEAD OF COMPARISON

3 | PEACE INSTEAD OF CONTEMPT

PART II: CULTIVATING RESILIENCE

4 | PATIENCE INSTEAD OF IMPATIENCE

5 | KINDNESS AND GOODNESS INSTEAD OF HOSTILITY

PART III: CULTIVATING WISDOM

6 | FAITHFULNESS INSTEAD OF FORGETFULNESS

7 | GENTLENESS INSTEAD OF OUTRAGE

8 | SELF-CONTROL INSTEAD OF RECKLESS INDULGENCE

CONCLUSION | GARDENING IN THE NICU

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

FOREWORD

DAN KIMBALL

We’ve all heard the various news reports or seen documentaries on both the positive and negative effects of living in the digital age. I am super grateful for technology and digital forms of communication and the ways they help and benefit us. But we are also now seeing how many of the creators and designers of digital technology and social media are sounding alarms about its negative and even dangerous effects. We are now being warned how our viewpoints, beliefs, and emotions can be manipulated and even changed. If we aren’t careful, we can end up believing things that aren’t true with the onslaught of disinformation constantly coming in. It’s been shown how our self-worth and even how we understand our identity is affected by social media. Thankfully, these dangers are now being talked about, and warnings are being given to us.

But we must also pay attention ...