I played with my first iPad this week. After wiping the drool off my chin, I was able to walk away without assistance. But, yes, I want. Or, more honestly: I lust.

On Sunday morning at church, the high schoolers are often seen at their own table at coffee hour, playing on their iPods. I take some blame — or praise — for this predicament as I gave them the password for the church wireless (with some ground rules). Now, even when they go to church, they are connected.

I got an HTC Droid Incredible last week. (Translation: an awesome touch-screen phone, Google’s answer to the iPhone.) It’s amazing. I can now stream NPR on long runs while charting my time and pace, I can access info like you wouldn’t believe, maintain my Foursquare mayoral status as several Grand Forks and Hallock hot spots, and tweet away.

But with all this awesome technology I wonder: is there a growing technology divide in our culture, and in the church?

I know someone, a very high-functioning retiree, who almost daily feels frustrated and challenged-to-the-breaking-point by his lack of computer skills. He wants to join in on the tech fun, but just doesn’t have the skill set.

I know other folks, even younger ones, that despise email and wouldn’t use an iPad if they were given one for each room in the house.

I know a youth who takes pride in not having a facebook account. I know people who despise electronic books — though they have certainly never read one. I know many people who see technology and know, just as instinctively as some know how to work an iPad, that it’s not for them.

And — no happy conclusion here — I just wonder what to make of all this. Will the tech divide become a real cultural barrier? Will there be a Tech Party movement to rival the Tea Party crowd? If changing technology is just in the water of the 21st century, what happens to those who can’t bring themselves to drink?

image by channah