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| Unplugged Photo by Ellysia Koenig Banks |
I love them because they keep me connected to family and friends, and allow me to stay in touch with the world-at-large. It is wonderful to celebrate with others as they have special moments in their lives... or I have cause to celebrate in mine. There can be moments of play and humor that simply make life fun. To capture a special moment using the convenience of my phone camera is sweet. It can be enhancing to be part of artistic or Christian community that encourage, challenge me, and help me expand my growth.
My daughter just peaked over my shoulder and said, "That is ironic. You are writing a blog that requires people to use electronics to read it." Obviously, I readily admit there is good to social media and the use of electronic devices. I have many different accounts and use many devices that enhance my work, life and faith.
My daughter just peaked over my shoulder and said, "That is ironic. You are writing a blog that requires people to use electronics to read it." Obviously, I readily admit there is good to social media and the use of electronic devices. I have many different accounts and use many devices that enhance my work, life and faith.
Yet.... I have to admit I have a hate relationship with electronics and social media. There is much noise, noise, noise that comes through the broadcast channels of email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. There is so much that arrives at my eyes, mind, and emotions that are NOT the way I want to live:
Last week after a particularly draining week electronically (for a variety of reasons), I made the intentional decision that from Saturday night until Monday morning I was going to practice the spiritual discipline of "Unplugging".
"...think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected." Philippians 4:8And honestly, I have come to realize that I am a "functional introvert". This means I can function in life amongst other human beings and enjoy it, but I also get drained of energy if I am around people, noise, and stimulus too much. I realize that I need a balance if I am to feel healthy and thrive. And for me, I am beginning to realize that this includes not only live people time-- but also monitoring my use of social media and electronics.
Last week after a particularly draining week electronically (for a variety of reasons), I made the intentional decision that from Saturday night until Monday morning I was going to practice the spiritual discipline of "Unplugging".
Unplugging (p. 85-87)
Desire: "To be fully present to and uninterrupted in my interactions with God and others.
She writes, "Unplugging recognizes that personal beings are created for personal interaction with God. We need to be in the presence of each other. Digital connections aren't enough to keep us healthy. We need to be touched. We need nonverbal signals. We need uninterrupted spaces in our lives for the presence of God and the presence of others.
With the aid of technology we can attempt to juggle multiple worlds at the same time. But we can't keep juggling for twenty-four hours a day and not get worn out.
In a world where people use the Internet an average of 30 hours a week and keep the TV or radio on 7.9 hours a day, we need to get unplugged from virtual reality and address our addiction to technology and the toxins it brings into our lives. Unplug, and look into the eyes of another human face--see the beauty of God's creation!" p. 87I love that Adele calls it what it is... "Unplugging"... and thus speaks directly into our present society. Unplugging = pull the plug on devices that require electricity and be more fully present to God and others...and to myself.
Yes, I intentionally decided the world could go on without me for a little more than 24 hours. I did not check my email. I did not look at Facebook. I did not read Twitter. I did not look at Instagram. I did not work on my computer. I put my cell phone in my office and walked away. This was made possible because on Saturday night and Sunday my entire family was at home together.
At this point you may be responding in your head with a few different responses: 1. "This is crazy talk! You are nuts if you think I am going to do this!" 2. "Cool, maybe I should try it." or 3. "I don't have a problem with this... I manage myself perfectly. It is only only you who has a problem." Feel free to interact as you need to. :)
So, what did I do instead of managing these electronic devices?
I had a clearer mind-- I could be more fully me inside my own skin and mind... and be available in the moments.
I drew in my artistic journal and tried something new. It was incredibly fun to do something creative.
After church on Sunday, I curled up next to my husband and took a nap on the couch while our kids occupied themselves.
I had interaction with my daughter, who I think found me more approachable since she talked and joked with me more than normal all day long.
I read more of my book and proved myself wrong in my often stated words, "I don't have time." (for transparency and honesty: Yah, I do... I just don't manage my time wisely). And while reading my book the author asked, "Which tasks that you have been doing today have drained you of energy, and which have appeared to recharge your batteries?" (p. 204, Inner Compass by Margaret Silf).
As I continued to reflect on this, try the spiritual discipline exercises, and read more*, I realized how much I do not have proper boundaries when it comes to electronics and social media in the daily rhythm of my life. It was hard to honor this idea of "unplugging" even for only a day or so. I was tempted often to pick up my devices. In this short time, I realized how addicted I am to my devices. I realized how I use them to fill time with mindless activity to numb or distract. I also realized that I am actually allowing others instant access to my life, my space, and my priorities...whether I am aware of it or not.
If the answer is "Yes" -- proceed -- but with caution while staying fully engaged. Maintain ability to process what I want to see and what I don't. Stop when it isn't where I want to be. I wonder if it would be good to look at the time and set a limit for myself before diving in.
If I am not 100% sure -- choose "No" -- and use my time more wisely and with the proper priorities that I want to live out. Don't squander precious time with mindless actions to just fill time or be distracted from the things that matter most.
And in doing this, I hope I will feel more intentional about the when, where, and how of what I let into my life. And hopefully.... I will be creating a more healthy balance overall. I may not be perfect in this... but I know I need to try to do something different. It has begun.
*The average person stares at his/her phone 150 times per day. There is a term for cell phone addiction called "nomophobia"- short for "no mobile phone phobia". Read more: "Your Cell Phone is Not Part of Your Body -- You Can Let It Go" (Great title! And great reminder!)
The minute I even look at my phone--I allow that to take over as the priority of my life. It consumes my focus and my time.
When I mindlessly open my email or Twitter, I let whatever is waiting instantly invade that moment.
A click on Facebook or Instagram... and a barrage of images and banter comes flooding into my day. The good... but also the bad and the ugly.
Ready or not--here it comes! Most time I will admit that I am NOT ready.I realize that by not intentionally choosing when and where and how I use social media and electronic devices, I am allowing other things and other people to have control of my time, my thoughts, and even my emotions. While social media and electronics can be blessings in many ways, as I mentioned above, they can also become curses.
Would I allow a whole group of people to occupy my house and my space without planning or invitation? Nope.
Do I allow my special time with my beautiful family to be invaded and controlled by others? I try not to.
Would I allow a random group of people to dictate what my schedule of work for the day should be? Nope.
Do I allow myself to purposefully be around conversations in daily life that are not life-giving or are toxic? I try not to be.
So why do I allow this to happen virtually?So I asked myself, what can I do differently? And I came up with this. I am going to try asking myself a question before picking up an electronic device, or clicking to open any program/application. The question I am going to ask myself is this:
"Do I give permission for these people or this information to enter my life at this moment?"If the answer is "No" -- do not proceed! Seriously... put the device down and walk away!
If the answer is "Yes" -- proceed -- but with caution while staying fully engaged. Maintain ability to process what I want to see and what I don't. Stop when it isn't where I want to be. I wonder if it would be good to look at the time and set a limit for myself before diving in.
If I am not 100% sure -- choose "No" -- and use my time more wisely and with the proper priorities that I want to live out. Don't squander precious time with mindless actions to just fill time or be distracted from the things that matter most.
And in doing this, I hope I will feel more intentional about the when, where, and how of what I let into my life. And hopefully.... I will be creating a more healthy balance overall. I may not be perfect in this... but I know I need to try to do something different. It has begun.
* * *
*The average person stares at his/her phone 150 times per day. There is a term for cell phone addiction called "nomophobia"- short for "no mobile phone phobia". Read more: "Your Cell Phone is Not Part of Your Body -- You Can Let It Go" (Great title! And great reminder!)
I totally agree,my friend. Even when we are with family and/or friends for one on one visits,we are still competing with Devises,as the addiction of these instruments still distracts personal contact and friendship by not being attentive 100%to those we are blessed to be with...these insruments have CONTROL OF US,PEOPLE. mostly by choice,certainly not by necessity.
ReplyDeleteWe do have choices... but the first step to change is being aware. I tell my kids "live people time before virtual people time"-- in order to help them remember the value of relationships with those who are with them. I feel like a hypocrite though-- as I obviously need to set a better example and practice what I preach.
DeleteGreat piece Ellysia, it hits home right on the head.
DeleteI also use a cell phone. I use it to call friends and relation mostly, but I also use it as a rescue tool in case I need help immediately from wherever I might be. My kids bought it for me to use, so that if I get into trouble while out in the forests when I am alone, I can call for help from out there. (Thoughtful kids they are). They know their dad pretty well, and know he likes to be out in the forest just walking around in it talking to his God and Savior.
Although I hardly ever use the cell phone, yet I do put it in my pocket every day just in case.
I am 78 years young, and I do not like intrusions into my life that are ridiculous, demeaning, and outright demoralizing, and are non Christian works, thoughts, ideas, or teachings. I find Facebook, along with many emails, going way beyond my ideas of what real life here on earth truly is. To my thoughts and faith, it is all a direct intervention into our lives by Satan himself, through electronics, which takes us away from our God and family, and forces us to have faith in our electronic gadgets instead of in our Lord and Savior.
So many times I have seen people using electronic devices, where, and when, they shouldn't be using them. It is very disheartening to know they are wasting their lives by giving their time and lives over to electronic devices.
I love your responding to the problem, which Christians, as well as others, face today in the electronic world. You explained well what you came to realize yourself about these electronic devices and what they can do to a family that is addicted to them, or to the persons who continually relies on them them. If a person allows themselves to be led away into false Ideals of what life really is, then we are all lost for our ignorance and loss of faith when we give ourselves over to electric devices, believing in them, and relying on them, instead of giving our time and energy to our Lord, which is the real and true life God gave us to live, instead of the false mask of life portrayed by these electronic devices which masquerade as the real way to live.
It is well that you realized your involvement with Electric devices Including the computer and all its drawbacks, yet if the electronic devices are all used for the good of Gods people, instead of for self satisfying works, arguments, or demeaning thrash, then they are being used according to Gods will for his people. There is much good can come of these devices, yet they are also used for evil by many of the worlds people today.
You are not alone when you say you feel like a hypocrite, because many of us are just even without knowing it, and so you are not alone in your feelings, and we all need to wake up to that fact or be lost to the beckoning of these electronic devices that promote a false mask of life.
Thank you Ellysia, for the opening of your heart and mind on this subject. You are indeed a person of God who says it like it is.
I pray that many people read this blog of yours, and wake up to what these electronic devises can do to a loving family.
God bless you for writing this, and for posting it where people can see it and read it. It is amazing to watch you grow in faith so many different ways. God is surely leading and guiding you, into something that is glorious, awesome and rewarding.
Thank you again for your insight and wisdom,
Your friend in Christ,
Marve
Thank you Marve for your comments. It is fun to continue our discussions even though we now live in different parts of the US.
DeleteThere are indeed blessings and curses of technology-- God can use these mediums (like you and I are doing in using this blog from our computers). But we need to be mindful or it may become our god or gods... and thus we do now live wisely or with the full life God intends for us.
I hope you enjoy your walks and marveling at the beauty of God's Creation. That is a good reminder that if we "unplug" perhaps we should also get away where we can experience this freedom in fresh ways. Blessings to you Marve.
Oops... I meant "we do not live wisely"....
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