Yes, you heard me. I am taking a break. Not just any break, a break from social media.
About a month ago, we got new phones-- we previously hadn't had cell phones for 5 years. We were happy that way, we loved the pace of life-- that we could go places and not be 'bothered' with the unimportant. We chose to return to the 21st century for many reasons... mostly for convenience sake. However, I gotta be honest. Since getting my new smart phone, (which can do so many neat things-- and is so helpful in organizing my chaotic life) I have found that I am consumed with this little thing called facebook.
The facebook app was one of the very first things to go on my phone-- and I loved it. Until I realized how much time I was spending "checking up" on things. Holy moly. Its just so easy and quick and convenient and ..... seriously. It feels like a time sucking addiction. That's the long and short of it folks. This girl needs a break.
In my bible time today I was reading Isaiah 26:9 which says "My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you." I thought, wow, when was the last time I felt like I was longing and yearning for God.... and hmmmm. I honestly couldn't answer. Now don't get me wrong friends... I love Jesus with everything I am. Longing and yearning are such strong words... yearning means: feeling an intense longing for something, to have an earnest or strong desire. If I'm going to be truly honest with myself, I have simply allowed something else (FACEBOOK) -- and the excitement of knowing what's going on in everyone's lives to steal some of the devotion that rightly belongs to HIM. When I wake up in the morning and I am excited to grab my phone to see what kind of notifications came while I was asleep, there's a real problem. I have been wrestling with letting it go and to be honest... I haven't really wanted to. What if I miss something important in someone's life? What if things happen without me?! -- I'm rolling my eyes at myself right now. So what? So what if something happens? My friends are capable of calling me-- which I know hasn't been the best mode of communication with me in the past-- but I am getting much better at my phone phobia. If its really important-- I'll find out.
I long for connection with others that isn't allowed to happen in this era of social networking. Lets be real here friends. We think- no, we convince ourselves that we are truly connected to those we are "friends" with on Facebook, or following on twitter. The sad, sad reality is... we are not. We have replaced our need for fellowship with one another with an entirely isolating form of social media. This makes my heart sad. I am too busy creeping on other people's lives (or what they allow me to see) that I can't take a moment to call my friend and love on her. I'm too busy trying to think of the most witty response to someone's post to make some real life memories with my family and friends that will live forever in their hearts and mine.
I want to have lemonade on my new deck with my friends- in real life. I want to talk about life and family and spiritual things in real life, with real people. I want to love on my neighbors who don't know Jesus... I want to personally encourage that young mom I see who seems so overwhelmed with life managing 3 toddlers. I want to physically touch others for Jesus. There are too many hurting people out there who only feel lonelier by the day as they surf facebook and are bombarded with photos and statuses of everyone's perfect and UNlonely lives. There are some who constantly bombard others with their petty drama. I have found myself deeply affected by both these groups.
That's not to say all social media is bad.... I believe there is much that can be said and done in this form to reach others. But the art of truly connecting with others in real life has become lost in the schuffle of iPhones, texting, facebook apps, and the like. What happened to connecting with others in person? There has to be a healthy balance in there somewhere.
So there you have it. Me and facebook are breaking up. I'm going to spend a good 30 days away and see how my heart and life changes. I'm uninstalling the app from my phone. I am getting my voice ready for all the talking I'll be doing on the phone with people. I'm going to do all the fun projects I never have time for... I'm going to be silly with my kids and not care. I am going to do new things and challenge myself to get out of my comfort zone. Mostly, I'm getting my heart back in its rightful place-- returning it to its unabashed devotion to my Savior.
I know you're thinking, I could never do that. I've thought the very same thing myself... many times. Truthfully, I'm scared. What if I just disappear? What if no one notices I'm gone? I need to remind myself who I belong to and what He thinks of me. At the end of the day, that's what is most important. Not who liked my status, who updated photos, or even who shared the greatest link.
I'll be blogging-- something I LOVE to do but never have time for... and will be reachable on the phone or by email/text. I am truthfully just relieved. I can't wait to take this break. Jeremiah 31:25 says "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." I am weary of keeping up with everyone. I am ready to be refreshed.
"The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple." -Psalm 19:7
Lord, your law is so perfect. It refreshes my soul. You have made wise the simple. Thank you for the simplicity of life without facebook. Restore my soul, captivate my heart once again. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Thank you for this time you have given to me... I want to glorify you in all things. In every moment, in every situation. I praise you for the moments you are giving me to minister to others and to encourage them. Give me your eyes. I long to see all you see -- the hearts of those you want me to touch. I am yours, Lord. No distractions, no busyness, no crazy stresses. Simple me in simple obedience to you. I love you.
About a month ago, we got new phones-- we previously hadn't had cell phones for 5 years. We were happy that way, we loved the pace of life-- that we could go places and not be 'bothered' with the unimportant. We chose to return to the 21st century for many reasons... mostly for convenience sake. However, I gotta be honest. Since getting my new smart phone, (which can do so many neat things-- and is so helpful in organizing my chaotic life) I have found that I am consumed with this little thing called facebook.
The facebook app was one of the very first things to go on my phone-- and I loved it. Until I realized how much time I was spending "checking up" on things. Holy moly. Its just so easy and quick and convenient and ..... seriously. It feels like a time sucking addiction. That's the long and short of it folks. This girl needs a break.
In my bible time today I was reading Isaiah 26:9 which says "My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you." I thought, wow, when was the last time I felt like I was longing and yearning for God.... and hmmmm. I honestly couldn't answer. Now don't get me wrong friends... I love Jesus with everything I am. Longing and yearning are such strong words... yearning means: feeling an intense longing for something, to have an earnest or strong desire. If I'm going to be truly honest with myself, I have simply allowed something else (FACEBOOK) -- and the excitement of knowing what's going on in everyone's lives to steal some of the devotion that rightly belongs to HIM. When I wake up in the morning and I am excited to grab my phone to see what kind of notifications came while I was asleep, there's a real problem. I have been wrestling with letting it go and to be honest... I haven't really wanted to. What if I miss something important in someone's life? What if things happen without me?! -- I'm rolling my eyes at myself right now. So what? So what if something happens? My friends are capable of calling me-- which I know hasn't been the best mode of communication with me in the past-- but I am getting much better at my phone phobia. If its really important-- I'll find out.
I long for connection with others that isn't allowed to happen in this era of social networking. Lets be real here friends. We think- no, we convince ourselves that we are truly connected to those we are "friends" with on Facebook, or following on twitter. The sad, sad reality is... we are not. We have replaced our need for fellowship with one another with an entirely isolating form of social media. This makes my heart sad. I am too busy creeping on other people's lives (or what they allow me to see) that I can't take a moment to call my friend and love on her. I'm too busy trying to think of the most witty response to someone's post to make some real life memories with my family and friends that will live forever in their hearts and mine.
I want to have lemonade on my new deck with my friends- in real life. I want to talk about life and family and spiritual things in real life, with real people. I want to love on my neighbors who don't know Jesus... I want to personally encourage that young mom I see who seems so overwhelmed with life managing 3 toddlers. I want to physically touch others for Jesus. There are too many hurting people out there who only feel lonelier by the day as they surf facebook and are bombarded with photos and statuses of everyone's perfect and UNlonely lives. There are some who constantly bombard others with their petty drama. I have found myself deeply affected by both these groups.
That's not to say all social media is bad.... I believe there is much that can be said and done in this form to reach others. But the art of truly connecting with others in real life has become lost in the schuffle of iPhones, texting, facebook apps, and the like. What happened to connecting with others in person? There has to be a healthy balance in there somewhere.
So there you have it. Me and facebook are breaking up. I'm going to spend a good 30 days away and see how my heart and life changes. I'm uninstalling the app from my phone. I am getting my voice ready for all the talking I'll be doing on the phone with people. I'm going to do all the fun projects I never have time for... I'm going to be silly with my kids and not care. I am going to do new things and challenge myself to get out of my comfort zone. Mostly, I'm getting my heart back in its rightful place-- returning it to its unabashed devotion to my Savior.
I know you're thinking, I could never do that. I've thought the very same thing myself... many times. Truthfully, I'm scared. What if I just disappear? What if no one notices I'm gone? I need to remind myself who I belong to and what He thinks of me. At the end of the day, that's what is most important. Not who liked my status, who updated photos, or even who shared the greatest link.
I'll be blogging-- something I LOVE to do but never have time for... and will be reachable on the phone or by email/text. I am truthfully just relieved. I can't wait to take this break. Jeremiah 31:25 says "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." I am weary of keeping up with everyone. I am ready to be refreshed.
"The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple." -Psalm 19:7
Lord, your law is so perfect. It refreshes my soul. You have made wise the simple. Thank you for the simplicity of life without facebook. Restore my soul, captivate my heart once again. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Thank you for this time you have given to me... I want to glorify you in all things. In every moment, in every situation. I praise you for the moments you are giving me to minister to others and to encourage them. Give me your eyes. I long to see all you see -- the hearts of those you want me to touch. I am yours, Lord. No distractions, no busyness, no crazy stresses. Simple me in simple obedience to you. I love you.
You rock, my dear.
ReplyDeleteOkay, seriously, I am right there. I mean right smack exactly dead center there. This is one of the reasons I love you so much! You say what I'm thinking...and its like,"hey, I'm not alone! Maybe I'm not a total dweeb cuz someone else is going through the exact things I am and thinking the same things!"
ReplyDeleteYou are right on the mark, we are giving our excitement and zeal (and time!)to something other than The only One who deserves it! And He is jealous for our affections! I repent for this and choose to turn away from this way of living and turn back to Him..Thank you for being the nudge I needed!
I love that we are often on the same page in our journey. :) I thank God all the time that I am so blessed to have a sister to travel these roads with. Love you friend. Thanks for being an encourager to me.
DeleteI agree with much that you say. I, too, wrestle with the whole Facebook "my real friends are here" mentality. I have pondered a sabbatical as you put it myself. I have allowed myself to stay on but with a much more purposeful use of it. We are all in different places, and I applaud your decision as right for you. It is the very point you make that make me evaluate. I, too, found myself hungering and thirst for the Lord, so I am learning that in His word and through time with Him are where sustenance comes from. For me, right now, in a new place, Facebook really does let me stay in touch with and do a Bible Study with my Hutchinson friends, even as I reach out in person to those who are my new friends. For me Facebook allows me to be a part of a group of sisters in Christ that would not have happened as well through email.
ReplyDeleteJust this morning, I was thinking about how people let this be a substitute for real relationships, and that is part of my change in how I use it.
Thanks for sharing how you are listening to the Spirit in His words for your life and sharing that to help others clarify what the Spirit is saying to them.
Oh yes... I definitely think there is much good that can come from the connections we make on Facebook. :) It is amazing the ways we can be connected with those we love who are far away-- I am so thankful to be able to have that way to connect with family and friends we have that are far from us. This break is really in the spirit of a fast for me. Fasting helps us gain perspective and allows God to speak to us in ways and about things we would not otherwise be open to. I am happy to share my personal journey with others. :)
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