Reconnected
By Steve Hearts
We live in a world where in order to get things done and keep up the pace, we need to constantly be “connected.” Not only has the Internet taken our existence to a level we never would have dreamed of twenty or thirty years ago, but thanks to smartphones, tablets, and computers, we can now take “the Net” with us wherever we go. This enables us to stay on top of our jobs and responsibilities even when we are physically away from our office or workplace. While this can certainly be an advantage, it can also cause us to work when we should be taking time off.
Thanks to technology, we rarely need to invest time in preparing a handwritten letter, go to the nearest post office and pay to have it sent off, and then wait a few weeks or a month for a reply. We can now simply type a message to someone who is on the other side of the world and send it to them electronically within mere seconds. All of this is great! It’s really nice to enjoy and use this convenience, but I have noticed that I can often grow impatient if I don’t receive a reply within a day or less.
In a world of instant communication and on-the-spot gratification, patience is becoming more and more of a lost art. And not only that, but many of us allow our constant connection to the electronic world to disconnect us from the important things in life.
When I was a boy, family gatherings were always centered around hanging out together, enjoying one another’s company, and catching up on lost time. Now, many people prefer to spend such time on their cell phones, texting or playing video games—even when in the company of loved ones. It’s interesting how some of those who are most “social” online can seem to be some of the most antisocial when it comes to face-to-face interaction with other people.
Although I’m not the type of person who spends a lot of time on Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, or other social networks, I do depend heavily on the Internet for email communications related to my ministry and research for my articles. All this can absorb a lot of my time. I used to be able to handle a lack of Internet access for a few days at a time if need be. But now I often find myself feeling anxious to connect daily and check my email to stay on top of things.
Every year, my dad and I would spend a few weeks with my grandma. She had no Internet access at her house. Before I learned about computers and the Internet, this didn’t bother me, and I looked forward to visits with her. But as my understanding of and appreciation for the Internet increased, my enthusiasm about these visits decreased considerably. I wanted to be connected 24/7—all day, every day. The Internet had become a life support of sorts for me. So when I was at my grandma’s house, boredom would immediately set in and I’d go stir-crazy.
I admit that there were times when it was thanks to the lack of Internet access that I would spend time with her, which was supposed to be my main reason for being there in the first place. Yet I also must confess that I did this somewhat reluctantly.
And then I experienced a notable about-face perspective. My stepsister’s birthday came around. To celebrate her birthday, we decided to take some much-needed rest at a hotel that a friend of ours owns.
Before we left to go to the hotel, the Lord whispered to my heart with instructions to refrain from getting online during our time there and to only use my laptop for listening to devotional material. I also felt that I should put aside all writing projects I’d been working on so I could take full advantage of this time away and recharge on all fronts.
Though I didn’t quite know how to pull off this challenge, I knew it was part of the Lord’s plan to teach me what I needed to learn, so I did what He asked of me. I devoted the entire time to praying, personal reflection, and hanging out with my stepsister, something I had not done very much.
It was one of the most relaxing and renewing times I’d experienced. I realized that I had become absorbed in my work and ministry to the point that my relationship with the Lord and the people around me had weakened. This brief getaway was a huge step in strengthening it.
I thought of biblical heroes such as Moses, David, Abraham, and others who walked closely with God and clearly heard His voice, without any of the man-made gadgets we depend on today. When Moses and Joshua climbed the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, they had no tablets to take notes while God spoke. Instead, they had tablets of stone on which God wrote with His own finger, while they simply remained still, waiting, and listening.
When God warned Noah of the flood and told him to build the ark, He didn’t send him a text message or post it on his Facebook wall. Rather, Noah heard God’s still small voice in his heart, which led and directed him every step of the way. As I reflected on this, I soon began to long for that slow-paced, simple life that technology has deprived us of.
When the time came to leave the hotel and return home, I almost wished the time wouldn’t end. I wanted to spend a few more days in that distraction-free environment so I could continue detaching myself from the busyness of the Internet age. But just as we were leaving, a new thought came to me; I’d have more time in this type of environment the next time I visited my grandma. And I was especially excited about visiting Fox Island, a county park not far from her house, where I used to go sledding with my brothers when we were kids. Birds abound there, and their peaceful, happy songs surround you wherever you go. There’s a pond for fishing and trails to walk. Little else is heard besides the sounds of nature. This kind of natural environment is closer to the environment of biblical times, in which God’s voice was heard more clearly due to lack of the modern distractions that drown it out in our world today.
This article is not meant to be a slam on technology. The Internet is a great source of information and opportunities. But to those whose lives revolve around technology and the Internet, may I suggest that you try to disconnect from the electronic world, even for a short time? You may find it brings relaxation to your mind, spirit, and body.
For me, it helped to reestablish bonds with loved ones and family, as well as reconnect with Jesus, and my heart was filled with peace that I sorely needed.
Adapted from a Just1Thing podcast, a Christian character-building resource for young people.
