My youngest has an email address. She is not yet two, but her inbox is filling up. Before you flame her misdirected father, allow me to clarify: I’m the only one sending her email, messages she will not read until her eighteenth birthday in 2027. Whilst I hope that she will one day experience this gift as a magical chest full of small treasures, my writings contain no great wisdom or profound thought. Rather, these notes are expressions of love from her dad and a journal of events as we live our lives together. Memorable times, arbitrary happenings, challenges or tough decisions, it does not matter.
Creative journalling has been one part healing balm, one part wake-up call. The depth of gratitude for the moments we have been gifted is overwhelming at times, but, as the days turn into months and the months into years, I’m becoming more and more uncomfortable with all the time and opportunity I waste. Why would I sit in the company of the most interesting and beautiful person I’ve ever met, yet choose to watch a movie? Is my own life so desperately boring that I have to find excitement in a fabricated hospital drama? Does it do me any good to consume this stuff, and what is the impact upon my spirit or ability to hear the still, small voice?
In her book “The Winter of our Disconnect”, Susan Maushart describes what happened when she unplugged her family for 6 months. No TV, Internet or mobile phones. It was a radical move, and certainly not a practical one, but led to the rediscovery of simplicity and a deep sense of appreciation for the little things. You can read more here
I’m not quite ready to shoot myself in the mouse-finger, but do long to rediscover a truly “connected” life. Rather than focussing on what we should not be doing, let us encourage one another to turn towards the stuff that is really good for us, finding balance amidst the crazy pace that we are being held hostage to.
Maybe you would like to record your own moments or start a journal for the next generation to treasure. Why not make time to sort through those family photos, write a note to God every day or just get outdoors more often? I believe that a series of small steps can lead to restoring our mind, heart and spirit. And ultimately position us for new-found intimacy with God.
Glory to Him
WS
As always, you ‘locate’ us.
It astonishes me that I yearn for more connectedness with God, yet when time presents itself, I will often sit on FB getting more connectedness with people – even complaining at how arb it all is!
Maybe its the age old tug-o-war between flesh and spirit?
Its time to make a stand, methinks.
Allie, that is one of the main reasons I stuck my neck out and wrote about my frustration — to take a stand of sorts, risking hypocrisy if I don’t make some significant changes. As always, I appreciate your insight and comments. Let me know how it goes!
Beautiful post. I also discovered by making life simpler, one tends to get closer to God. Like having 15 minutes every evening without any technology and spent that time educating and hearing what God have to say to us. Just to name on example
Thank you! Agreed, just a small change…15 minutes…could be a catalyst and open doors we never would have walked through otherwise.
What an incredible post and the yearning of my heart and yet *unplugging* is a frightening prospect for me.
Yes, lets find the balance and recapture some of the simplicity – year after year I find myself chasing simplicity – how IRONIC is that???
Fantastic post W!
Well Mel, you certainly have put action to your words! I appreciate the encouragement, and your honesty. I’ll be over at fivetribe to catch up
And I’m getting that Thoreau book! Simplify it has to be…
Werner, this is the most beautiful post you’ve written; it’s true how we allow modern “miracles” to consume our lives either for entertainment or merely an “escape” and how sad it is that we forget our greatest and most happiest times are spent with God and the miracles He has blessed us with, life of another. Take care and God Bless you always, you’re a wonderful inspiration to us.
Thanks Landi – always good to hear from you, especially since you are so far away. Hope to chat a lot more in 2011 – God bless!