A Sabbatical from Technology

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9-11 ESV).

I’m running a bit behind this week. It is actually Tuesday as I sit down and write. I’ve busied myself with other things and gotten off schedule (for those of you who know me, you also know that plays havoc with my psyche). At any rate, as I posted today’s devotional on the various sites I use, I also scrolled through some of the social media I use from time to time. I’m especially fond of Instagram as it is one of the best sources for pictures of family and friends. However, I also noticed one post on Face Book from someone who had left their cell phone at home. They were pondering whether they should go back home and get it. I’m not sure how they posted that without their phone; but, there it was. My first thought was that perhaps I should lose my phone for a day. Perhaps extending that to a full sabbatical from all technology would be even better. It is true that most of us are tied to technology, incessantly connected through at least one device. Our phone is always on us or close at hand. We use a laptop to work remotely or conduct meetings. Our calendar links across our devices to keep us organized and maybe our whole family too. Digital technology has become a central part of our lives; however, we must examine whether this dependency is simply benign, or not. Could our attachment to devices be eating away at our attachment to those we love, especially to our families? Is it possible that our habitual over-consumption of digital media is eroding our relationship with God? It doesn't take much self-reflection to realize that always being connected is a good way to stay disconnected from the Lord. Life completely "off the grid" seems impossible, and for most of us, would require a career change, but we need to keep our technology use in check. We need to create healthy boundaries that protect our minds and our relationships from its damaging effects, especially as it relates to our spiritual health. That thought led me to the Scripture for today’s devotional. God, the master of time itself, took time to rest after creating the world (cf. Genesis 2:2). He built the need for rest into our DNA and even commanded us to follow His example. In our frenetic culture of digital connectivity, I think I’ve forgotten how to rest. It is essential that we re-learn how to take a sabbatical. When we take time to truly rest, we can regain control. Technology no longer ensnares and controls us. We are able to use it to enrich our lives. There's a quietness of spirit that returns to our hearts. We are able to re-engage in meaningful relationships and activities that we previously neglected or ignored. Most importantly, we discover that God was speaking to us all along. We were just too distracted to listen. Taking a break once a week puts technology back into its proper place, where we control it to benefit ourselves and society, and it does not control us. Go ahead, forget your device for a while, even if it’s only an hour or so.