Friday, August 20, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Priority Shift
Okay! So here it is.
Yesterday, I officially began a break from facebook. Yes, you read that right. No, the world is not ending.
I got to thinking that many of my interactions on facebook as of late have not cultivated feelings of "love" and "encouragement". It has mostly been a way for me to waste time - anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Yes, it ashames me to admit that, but yes. I can indeed spend hours at a time on the social networking giant known as Facebook.
There are so many better things I could do with my time than sit indoors and stare at a computer screen and cultivate my virtual "social life". I can walk my dog. I can ride my bike. Go to the pool. Hang out with my friends. Get a haircut. Write a book. The list goes on and on. All these are wonderful, semi-productive things, but not the main point of my break from the online social networking world.
For one, I am a texter. I love to text. Unless you happen to be my best friend or my employer, you can pretty much bank on leaving me a voicemail because I won't answer the phone. Text me! That's ridiculous. I'm majoring in public relations, for crying out loud. I've got to work on my people skills. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not a hermit, and I am capable of having comfortable social interactions. But given the choice, I'd much rather hang with my small, but close circle of friends than go out to a big party or something and meet new people. Maybe party is the wrong word. I've never been a fan of parties. Perhaps "event" works better. Taking a break will allow me the opportunity and challenge of actually speaking with people in person and/or on the phone. Woah! Hah.
But let's not get off track here. The things I have mentioned before are all fringe benefits. Benefits, no less, but not my main goal.
The absolute main reason I am attempting this is because I want to spend more time with God. How wrong is it that I can honestly say that for as long as I can remember, I have spent more time on facebook than I have reading my Bible? That's absolutely ridiculous. There's no excuse for that. None. Why should I have to be down and depressed to come to God in prayer or read my Bible? I DON'T!!!! Sadly, this is when the majority of my praying and Bible reading comes in. Whether it's for myself or for a friend, I come to God mostly when help is needed. It shouldn't be that way. God should be someone I can and do come talk to everyday, with everything. I should spend time with Him just as I spend time with my family and friends. He loves me more than I could ever imagine, and what do I give him in return? A few measly minutes here and there and Sunday mornings and Tuesday nights. That is not enough. And that is what I wish to change. I hope that with this endeavor I can take the time I could have spent on facebook and use it to read my Bible, or to pray, or just to simply spend time with God in worship.
Now don't get me wrong, facebook is a great way to communicate, and it is a great way to encourage others and be encouraged. I am not staying off facebook forever. This last week before school starts back up I am taking a complete break. Then after that, we'll see what happens. I hope to not go right back to my old habits of wasting time online and ignoring God. Please reprimand me if I do. But I do intend to use it as a means of encouraging others and sharing what is going on in my life and other's lives. Facebook is not a bad thing. But like anything, when used in excess, is indeed a sin.
I challenge you to take a look at your own life and see how much time you spend with God. However much that is, I'm sure it can be more.
Yesterday, I officially began a break from facebook. Yes, you read that right. No, the world is not ending.
I got to thinking that many of my interactions on facebook as of late have not cultivated feelings of "love" and "encouragement". It has mostly been a way for me to waste time - anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Yes, it ashames me to admit that, but yes. I can indeed spend hours at a time on the social networking giant known as Facebook.
There are so many better things I could do with my time than sit indoors and stare at a computer screen and cultivate my virtual "social life". I can walk my dog. I can ride my bike. Go to the pool. Hang out with my friends. Get a haircut. Write a book. The list goes on and on. All these are wonderful, semi-productive things, but not the main point of my break from the online social networking world.
For one, I am a texter. I love to text. Unless you happen to be my best friend or my employer, you can pretty much bank on leaving me a voicemail because I won't answer the phone. Text me! That's ridiculous. I'm majoring in public relations, for crying out loud. I've got to work on my people skills. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not a hermit, and I am capable of having comfortable social interactions. But given the choice, I'd much rather hang with my small, but close circle of friends than go out to a big party or something and meet new people. Maybe party is the wrong word. I've never been a fan of parties. Perhaps "event" works better. Taking a break will allow me the opportunity and challenge of actually speaking with people in person and/or on the phone. Woah! Hah.
But let's not get off track here. The things I have mentioned before are all fringe benefits. Benefits, no less, but not my main goal.
The absolute main reason I am attempting this is because I want to spend more time with God. How wrong is it that I can honestly say that for as long as I can remember, I have spent more time on facebook than I have reading my Bible? That's absolutely ridiculous. There's no excuse for that. None. Why should I have to be down and depressed to come to God in prayer or read my Bible? I DON'T!!!! Sadly, this is when the majority of my praying and Bible reading comes in. Whether it's for myself or for a friend, I come to God mostly when help is needed. It shouldn't be that way. God should be someone I can and do come talk to everyday, with everything. I should spend time with Him just as I spend time with my family and friends. He loves me more than I could ever imagine, and what do I give him in return? A few measly minutes here and there and Sunday mornings and Tuesday nights. That is not enough. And that is what I wish to change. I hope that with this endeavor I can take the time I could have spent on facebook and use it to read my Bible, or to pray, or just to simply spend time with God in worship.
Now don't get me wrong, facebook is a great way to communicate, and it is a great way to encourage others and be encouraged. I am not staying off facebook forever. This last week before school starts back up I am taking a complete break. Then after that, we'll see what happens. I hope to not go right back to my old habits of wasting time online and ignoring God. Please reprimand me if I do. But I do intend to use it as a means of encouraging others and sharing what is going on in my life and other's lives. Facebook is not a bad thing. But like anything, when used in excess, is indeed a sin.
I challenge you to take a look at your own life and see how much time you spend with God. However much that is, I'm sure it can be more.
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