I recently drove my 40km to work the other day and as I pulled into the car park, I realised I had left my mobile phone at home. I contemplated turning around and heading back to get it. But to face another 80km of driving, just to return to the spot I had just parked in, all of a sudden seemed ludicrous to me. So I decided to go the day without my phone… the first time in 20 years that I can recall!
No big deal, right? But the initial panic and anxiety that came from that sudden realisation, was a little unnerving.
Throughout the day, I began to miss my diary, the reminder alarms for appointments, the SMSs, incoming calls and the occasional glance at a favourite App or two over lunch. At one point in the day, I suddenly grabbed at my pocket realising my mobile wasn’t there, and began a frantic 2 second search that abruptly ended, as I recalled my stupidity.
By the time I had got home that evening, I went to my mobile immediately and got reacquainted with it, cleared all the alarms and check the missed calls and SMSs. Oh, joy! Oh, happiness. Then I greeted my perplexed wife and kids and announce I was home… what?!
But did it hurt me not having it around for the day? Honestly, no. So why the anxiety? It dawned on me just how addicted I was to this little technological delight. It also scared me, a bit, to have experienced withdrawal symptoms… had I created a 20 year dependency on this phone?!
It got me to thinking…
There seems to be about a million “simplicity” blogs launched every single day. And even at church recently we did a series on “A Simple Life”. Seems that more and more weary people want to slow down, live purposely, and declutter their burdened lives.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
While I was contemplating this Scripture, the one thing that seems to actually be increasing a burden in our lives is the noise of technology.
Laptops, computers, iPads, i-Pods, i-somethingElse, TV, T-Box, DVD, CD, MP3, blogs, Tumblrs, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google, Buzz, GPS and 3G Mobile phones – you name it and our lives are surrounded by technology. I am not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, as I believe technology has a lot to offer.
But technology is very demanding – just try and ignore a ringing Mobile phone!
So, are we getting addicted to technology?
I can hear some who will read this say, “Nah! Not me!” Not you? Sure about that?
Try and leave the house without a mobile phone. Remember when you used to be able to do that, and if you didn’t answer the phone people just left you a message? Try it for a day.
If you survived that, then see if you can go just ONE day without any technology. No TV, no computers, no mobile phones, no nothing. Give your mind a break from the constant bombardment of information, information, and more information. It cannot be healthy to be constantly “connected” like we are! Turn it all off for a day.
You may be really surprised at what you will discover.
Maybe pop back here and share what you experienced with us all.
I know I’m interested…