In the car this morning I heard a review of a new work entitled Driven to Distraction. Written by a Pulitzer Prize author who is covering the neuroscientists studying the impact of our screen-driven, plugged-in world, the book covers the impact that constant engagement with the electronic world is having on our brains and stress levels.
It’s important work and I am looking forward to reading it.
What is clear — with or without research of this kind —- is this: Constant distraction keeps us from being present to God, to those we love, and even to ourselves.
Find time to ungplug.
Turn off the computer, ipad, and iphone — all of it.
Listen for God.
Listen to and laugh with those you love.
Be where you are.
I read a Peggy Noonan op-ed about this issue. Information overload is what she called it. Broad and shallow processing impedes knowledge. The pull away from it is that being connected to other people electronically is highly addictive because of the good things that actually do come through them every so often, a heartfelt email, a compliment on a post etc. What happens, though, is silence and reflection are neglected, which runs a person dry.
I can see why the early monastics retreated to the desert to pare away those things.
All Christians should ask themselves (me included) what is happening to us today? If we have no time to read God’s Word, be silent before Him, talk to Him, praise and worship Him, listen to Him and wait upon Him as well as feel Him moving in our beings and guiding us daily so that we can carry out His wishes and be intimately acquainted with Him – why do we have times for all these “plug ins”? Why are we not plugged into God with every bit of fervant love we can muster? If we do, we will love God as the first commandment instructs and obey the second commandment. Let us seriously ask ourselves: Do we love God at all? I pray we will never hear Him say: Depart from Me I never knew you. For that verse means to me that we never knew Him!
Carol Lawson
If you’ve never experienced a silent retreat, I highly recommend one! Unplug, slow down and let God!
Your last line (Be where you are) is the single most important parenting advice I’ve ever heard. Fortunately I heard it when my two kids were quite young. Simply put it means to put all the distractions aside when you are with your kids. Focus on them while you are with them. Make them know that they are the most important thing in your life. You will never regret those times.