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Mess Makes Meaning
Caring for young children's spirituality is a delicate balance and can often be made more difficult when we grown-ups don't care for ourselves. Struggling through religious or church related trauma or even feelings of inadequacy when it comes to answering our children's big questions. At Mess Makes Meaning we are here to equip the parents/caregivers to remind them and their children they are deeply loved by interviewing some guests who are professionals in this vital work. With relatable humor from hosts and guests alike, this podcast is for you and created by Godly Play®
Mess Makes Meaning
Passive Technology
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In this episode of Mess Makes Meaning, we are joined by Karen-Marie Yust for a thoughtful conversation about “passive technology” and the ways it often becomes a quick band-aid for boredom in the lives of children and families.
Together, we explore how screens and passive forms of entertainment can sometimes serve a helpful purpose, offering rest, distraction, or a needed pause in busy days. At the same time, Karen-Marie invites us to reflect on what might be happening beneath the surface when technology becomes the default response to boredom, and how that shapes imagination, attention, and connection.
Rather than offering simple answers, this conversation opens up space for curiosity and balance. We consider how families might thoughtfully engage with technology in ways that support growth, rest, and relationship, while also making room for boredom as a meaningful and even necessary part of childhood.
Karen-Marie’s insights encourage us to hold a both/and perspective—recognizing that passive technology is not inherently good or bad, but something to be understood within the rhythms of family life. This episode offers gentle reflection, practical awareness, and encouragement for parents navigating the digital landscape with their children.