Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Step away from the technology...

Welcome to Chapter 4, the Media Fast.  Oh boy!  Jen did this media fast with her entire family.  I am leery of even mentioning a media fast to the entire family, they might tie me up and throw me in the closet!  I didn't think our family was too addicted to media, but then I took some inventory.  After mentally counting the iPod Touches, smartphones, lap tops, TV's, Nintendo DS, desk top computer, Wii, xbox, blah blah blah, I re-evaluated.  Not sure what the family will say, but I'm going to present them with some of the alternative fast ideas Jen gives in the leader guide.  Maybe your family will be open to trying one of these - remind that that next week is the week before Easter - a great time to fast! Here are some of Jen's ideas:

  • dedicate only one hour a day to any media or technology
  • let each family member pick only one screen option for the week, and only for a limited time
  • choose a cut-off time in which every family member turns in phones, laptops or games each day
  • make a media-alternative plan for each day/night (family game night, picnic for dinner, bike to the park, invite another family over, take a family walk, kids make dinner night, serve together, you get the idea)
  • choose people to connect with IN PERSON this week instead of using media
  • dedicate 7 hours a day to no screens
  • declare screen free zones of the house or times of the day
A final thought for today.  Jen suggests we take a look at Proverbs 6:6-11  in relation to social media, so here it is for you:

Proverbs 6:6-11

English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
    consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief,
    officer, or ruler,
8 she prepares her bread in summer
    and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
    When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want like an armed man.


Then she poses this question:

Does social media activity decrease your productivity?  

Lastly, a thought from me:

Consider the amount of time you spend in social media vs the amount of time you dedicate to spending with God each day.  How could your life be different if you adjusted these amounts even a little?
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 23, 2013 at 7:01 AM

    Thanks for the post, Leslie. I thoroughly enjoy reading your insights—they make me think! I just started reading the chapter yesterday. In doing so, I realize how critical I am of others' fascination with media, but have never taken the time to assess mine...go figure! Having a job that parks me in front of a computer sometimes 12 hours a day, the last thing I want to do is switch on some electrical gadget in my free time. However, as I sit in front of a computer on a sunny Saturday morning, that seems a tad hypocritical! So….What’s up??? OK…

    • I get frustrated with my attempts to "turn off" as they always set me back. Personal bills/finances are maintained on the computer; turn off the computer and the tasks are all there to tend to, with added urgency, when I turn it back on. (When is that tax deadline??)
    • Communication is another issue. I’ve been a victim of unresponsiveness—multiple emails/calls/texts to electronic “groupies,” to not avail. (Select children of mine--your mom is pointing her finger at you!) Call me old-fashion, but if you provide others with the means to communicate with you, common courtesy is to respond.
    • Besides quite a few of the things I do on the computer are “spiritual”—daily devotionals, sharing prayer requests with friends….this blog!!!

    See?? I have plenty of good excuses, but other people—they abuse media. Really??? Whenever I am full of criticism and self-justification, it’s a sure sign God is usually nudging me to examine myself. This month, I will prayerfully assess ways in which I abuse media and how I can moderate that behavior. Jen’s offers some great suggestions to limit media. However, as with any purge of bad habits I pursue, I will need to augment my choice to also include a positive behavior with which to fill the void. Otherwise, the clean-swept house will soon be filled with many more demons. (Matthew 12:43-45). Lots to pray about!
    ~Pat

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  2. LAKMarch 24, 2013 at 7:46 AM

    Thank you so much for your reply and your honesty. This is a hard one for lots of people because the way we live is so tied into media. Loved your last thought about the clean swept house. Looking forward to a good conversation about all of this in April! Leslie

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