Taken out by the cell phone. Scrolling on past tragedy, to stop at comparison. Stuck, numb… a poem about technology.
Simpler Times - How to know when technology causes more harm than good
I lay hunched over holding my baby, typing with one hand on my phone, balancing and shifting my fingers with each breath. My how times have changed. The decorative turquoise typewriter from the 60s sits on my desk to look pretty, but the real work happens with my left thumb putting my thoughts quickly down on the screen as my other arms supports my sleeping baby girl.
From the couch whose angles and springs invite everyone after a long day, to the spring rockers that sit steady, our furniture reminds us of simpler times, times we didn't experience, but simplicity we'd like our family home to host. Each piece we find abandoned at the thrift or sold from a loved one, we breath new life into and soon the kids are jumping off of them and reading under them.
The clean lines and the unique shapes of the furniture and decor represent our determination to not be distracted, not feel the need to keep up with the newest decor trends, but to find the pieces that truly represent our unique taste and family.
The irony of it is that I'm clenching my iPhone as the iPad sits on the side table. How do we live in such a time with opportunities and technology ever expanding, and yet not be distracted? How do I love on my baby and meet the demands of my other children, husband, friends and family? I read, write out notes, plan, schedule, text, write grocery lists, email, lesson plan, watch re-runs on an app, connect with friends on IG, all on my phone. When I need to get away, I hide it in the bedroom with the volume down.
Notifications roll across my screen and my mind adds another thing to my to-do list.
I don't want to be staring at my screen and miss the notifications of my children. The moments of worry that may flash across their face, the joy when they spell their sight word perfectly, the wonder of Jesus. The moments missed because we are choosing to not use technology properly.
When our tools for efficiency and connection become hindrances to our relationships and lives we must make a change.
Even as I write this on my laptop, my son snuggles next to me and spells his sight words once again. My eyes move away from the screen and I look at him and ask how I can serve him, a deliberate choice to be present.
Work and play, efficiency and entertainment, all mixed together in our palms while our families and relationships slowly stunted from the missed moments. It is not too late. We must make a choice to be deliberate with our time. As I lay my phone down on the kidney shaped table, and look over to the colorful Pyrex stacked on my shelves, I stand determined to make a life change.
How are you being deliberate with your technology choices in your home? Do you have some amazing resources to share? We'd love to hear how you balance the use of technology and your thoughts on this.
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