The Sticky Note System
As someone who has worked in a few different places over the years, it often surprises people that I have a system of pen and paper for my to-do lists, my note taking, and my preference for writing. As a digital native (more or less) you’d think that I would rely on some sort of digital note taking system, but that’s often not quick enough for me. Jotting down a quick note usually serves as a good reminder of what I need to do. Lately I have been attempting to use a digital to-do list complete with the option to have tasks repeat from week to week. So far, so good on this new system, but I still find myself longing for the way I’ve always done things- the haphazard chaos of the to-do list on the back of an envelope and the sermon notes on a piece of scratch paper feel more like the genuine me. These new, efficient, environmentally more sustainable options are supposed to be better. And I find myself, much like a piece of paper, torn.
You see, on the one hand, I love having something in my hands. Tangible connection can make a difference for how you experience the written word. Scripture on that thin paper in tiny print or in a tome with large print and illustrations (and maps!) makes Scripture feel real in your hands. There’s no mystery to it- you’ve got it in black and white and sometimes red. It feels different than staring at a screen- something that many of us do for a large portion of our days. It makes me slow down. I have to be somewhere that’s well lit and make sure my glasses are clean. Well, mostly clean. There is a connection to Scripture when it’s on paper that you just don’t get on a screen.
But then the opposite can also be true. Having digital Scripture makes it accessible for many different people. You can make it a larger print. You can look at many different versions. You don’t have to be able to physically lug a tome around. It’s also easier to find a verse that you’ve half-remembered. And when you highlight in a digital copy, you don’t have to worry about not using just the right highlighter. You know it won’t bleed through the paper and make the verses on the other side hard to read. You can also have scripture in many different languages. There are perks to doing things with the latest technology.
Pen and paper can feel antiquated when comparing to today’s touchscreens and scannable, rewritable notebooks. There is a satisfaction when putting pen to paper; it makes it feel like I’m genuinely doing something. These are my hands creating this message. It’s not just my brain that’s engaged in this, but all of me. Whether I use my good handwriting or scrawl, what sort of pen did I choose to use, what is the quality of the paper- it all factors into the value of what I am creating. Speed is also a part of why I like old school pen and paper. At a recent meeting, I was reminded why I preferred taking my notes on paper with a shorthand style I developed in high school- I rarely have to ask twice for information. I type decently fast, but my shorthand has served me for years (and no, it’s not official stenography). And there is the sticky note system that I developed in my professional career. When someone needs a task done, I simply put it on a sticky note, sometimes with a priority, and when I get it done, I take down the sticky note. Simple, no task left behind, and perfect for me. I like pen and paper.
I like pen and paper until I remember how much that impacts the planet. Being a good steward of creation does not usually involve this much paper. Yes, many companies have good, sustainable practices but that does not negate how much paper actually costs- both on my own pocketbook and on the world climate crisis. Paper was once a precious commodity and there may be a future where this is true again. Do I want to be complicit in creating this future? Do I want to rely on a system that I one day may be ill-equipped to afford? How active do I want to be in the destruction of the planet? Okay, maybe my personal use of sticky notes isn’t actually what is causing the climate crisis, but the corporations who are responsible have done an excellent job of making me (and maybe you too) feel personally responsible. It just leaves me with much to ponder.
In the end, you might be asking, why am I torn? Well, there was a trend in churches during COVID to swap to QR codes and some churches never went back. It reduces their printing costs and office supply costs. Bulletins can be completed at a later date in the weekly timeline without inconveniencing anyone. But would it be the right choice for this congregation? Don’t worry- I’ve already thought this one through. We won’t be going all digital anytime soon. But I do wonder how and where we can incorporate technology into the life of the church to better serve people, love God, and life in this world as Christians. If you’ve got an idea, let me know. I’ll write it on a sticky note.
