10 Aug INVOLUNTARILY UNPLUGGED: Sending My Phone Swimming

A few weeks ago, in the middle of our family trip to the lake, I accidentally sent my phone swimming. You would think I dropped it in the lake, right? Nope, I sent my phone swimming in my beach bag, after failing to properly close a giant water bottle. Two bags of rice and 48 hours later, my trusty iPhone is still firmly in paperweight territory.

Right before our trip, I had the privilege of spending the weekend at the She Speaks writing conference. I entered our family vacation tired yet exhilarated, full of ideas, follow-up notes to write, and new writing friends to text. My mind was going a million miles an hour and I was having a hard time adjusting to the tranquil serenity of our lakeside retreat.

What I really needed to do was unplug, stop obsessively checking my phone, and take a break from e-mail. A few days in, I found myself saying to the Lord, “Hey Lord, I’m having a hard time relaxing and I think I need to unplug, can you help me do that?”

Shortly thereafter, I found myself involuntarily unplugged. Ruining my phone wasn’t quite what I was thinking, but it certainly did the trick. While I’m a little freaked out about losing the pictures I hadn’t backed up and my FOMO on keeping up with group texts is rising, this break from my phone has been good for me.

I never realized how many times my fingers reflexively reach to check e-mail, or how hungry I am for the instant gratification of text messaging. I’m in the midst of God’s glorious creation and I should be fully present and engaged with his beauty. Our days are filled with sunshine, wind, water, and stars, so why am I itching for an empty screen? My most favorite people are gathered together, yet I find myself wondering what everyone else is doing with their days.

True life confession: after my daughter was born, I started getting carpal tunnel in my wrist from excessive texting. I’m not big on social media but I love texting. Did I let my wrist pain get in the way of my deep need to feel connected? Nope. I just mastered voice to text and resumed communicating with a vengeance.

The Lord knew it was time for a little reorientation, and that I needed a hard stop to find the space and time to evaluate my relationship with my phone. For months, my husband has been saying that I need better boundaries with technology and I think he’s right. I’ve got some homework to do with Jesus.

Thankfully, Jesus knew how to unplug. He was unflaggingly diligent in spending time alone with his father. He knew that in order to meet all the demands facing him each day, he needed solitude and prayer. Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Jesus didn’t just withdraw for 5 minutes in the morning or every few days as time permitted, he withdrew often to pray. If I have time to check my phone a million times a day, I have time to withdraw often to pray.

I’m not sure yet what the balance looks like, but I do know that I’m not going to let this opportunity to reset pass me by.

And neither is Grandpa. Grandpa is taking every opportunity to cement his place in my daughter’s heart by plying her with ice cream and cinnamon rolls daily.

Ladies, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Do struggle with technology boundaries? Have you struck a good balance for yourself and your family? What’s worked well for you? What hasn’t worked well?