This is one of them.
I was dreading writing it because it's hard to admit to anyone, whether it be yourself, family, or dozens of readers, that you've allowed yourself to be addicted to worldly things.
But sometimes you have to go outside of your comfort zone to change.
Exodus 20:4 says, "You shall not make for yourself an idol in any form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below."
I have allowed myself to create an idol.
An idol that prevents me from being intentional with something I can never get back: My time, my attention, my priorities.
I realized a long time ago that I in order to obtain the simpler life we desire, at some point my iPhone has got to go.
I love my iPhone. I use my iPhone for a lot of things.
In today's world, iPhones are incredibly useful.
In fact, despite the fact that my job basically required it at the time, I was hesitant in getting one to begin with. But I did.
I have the habit of checking my email, Facebook, blog, instagram, Twitter, texts every time I pick up my phone. For no reason. Just habit. Just in case something happened. Just to stay updated on everything.
But whenever I see Evelyn playing a crossed the room while I'm on it, I feel guilty.
What am I doing? Is the convenience of being able to find any and everything any where and anytime really that much more important? Is it necessary? Worth the temptation?
This is something I'm really struggling with lately. At the beginning of the month I deleted my Facebook & Twitter apps from my phone. I do my best to remember to be present in the moments instead of capturing the moments for others on instagram.
I was dreading writing it because it's hard to admit to anyone, whether it be yourself, family, or dozens of readers, that you've allowed yourself to be addicted to worldly things.
But sometimes you have to go outside of your comfort zone to change.
Exodus 20:4 says, "You shall not make for yourself an idol in any form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below."
I have allowed myself to create an idol.
An idol that prevents me from being intentional with something I can never get back: My time, my attention, my priorities.
 |
| My iPhone |
I love my iPhone. I use my iPhone for a lot of things.
In today's world, iPhones are incredibly useful.
In fact, despite the fact that my job basically required it at the time, I was hesitant in getting one to begin with. But I did.
I have the habit of checking my email, Facebook, blog, instagram, Twitter, texts every time I pick up my phone. For no reason. Just habit. Just in case something happened. Just to stay updated on everything.
But whenever I see Evelyn playing a crossed the room while I'm on it, I feel guilty.
What am I doing? Is the convenience of being able to find any and everything any where and anytime really that much more important? Is it necessary? Worth the temptation?
This is something I'm really struggling with lately. At the beginning of the month I deleted my Facebook & Twitter apps from my phone. I do my best to remember to be present in the moments instead of capturing the moments for others on instagram.
I haven't gotten rid of my phone. But somedays I just feel like I don't want it anymore. I don't want the temptation. But is that too radical? Too not want your iPhone?
For now, I'm just trying to be more conscience of what I use it for. Limiting what I'm able to access.
For now, I'm just trying to be more conscience of what I use it for. Limiting what I'm able to access.
Thank you following along on our journey to simplicity. Please be sure to learn about our family, like our page on Facebook, and visit the right column to subscribe to our posts :)
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
Philippians 4:12
God Bless!
Oh, gosh - right there with you, friend. Admitting things like this can feel shameful. But hey - good thing we don't condemn each other, right (Rom 8.1)? Right :) Don't beat yourself up about this - it's awesome to see your internal honesty, as well as your recognition that time spent with your daughter is priceless!
ReplyDeleteAh yes the iphone. It is something I loved at one point too :-) My husband and I got iphones a few years ago. We signed up for the 2 year contract and everything. And then a little over a year ago, we got rid of them. Well, we do actually still have the phones, they still work with wifi, but I made a conscious effort to no longer use it. It was detrimental to the relationships I have. What is sad to me though, is that I know some people that will sit on their iphone for an entire visit with us. Maybe we are just too boring, but it seems like a waste of a visit if you can't make eye contact! Don't get me wrong, I love gadgets, but I feel like the way we use technology now is not as a benefit to us, it is a hindrance.
ReplyDeleteInstead of building meaningful relationships, we surf facebook and pick up little tidbits of information on people we went to high school with - whom we no longer talk to and most likely didn't talk to in high school. Instead of calling someone on the phone, or writing a letter, we leave a quick post on the ol' facebook wall, or retweet something to someone because we can't be bothered to say it in our own words. I know these are sweeping generalizations, but I honestly feel that it is a big issue in our society. I can't even imagine all the issues that would ensue if a cell phone tower went down, or people lost power for any length of time. It worries me :-)
I cancelled my facebook page last year, but then had people coming out of the woodwork wondering why I "unfriended" them, so I started up my page again, but now only have a few people on it. Great post!
You've expressed even more of my feelings, Heather!
DeleteWe have resisted getting an iPhone for this reason. I'm afraid once you get it you can't go back. I don't think it's too extreme to want to get rid of it. It's hard to resist that temptation.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a struggle for me too!! You are right, checking it throughout the day is a habit... one that is hard to break. I'm trying to only check my social media before I go to bed at night. Wanting to get rid of it is NOT radical. It's your heart telling you what your head already knows :)
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to these thoughts too! It's so hard to know where to draw the line these days with social media. However, I think you have the right attitude of not eliminating it (because that's never going to happen in our culture anyway) but instead limiting it. Limiting yourself. My husband has, for the time being, asked me not to be on Twitter or Instagram because I have enough social media outlets through my blog, email, and FB.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter just figured out how to "open" my iPhone... at 18 months! I'm proud we kept it away from her enough that she only just figured it out (a visit with all her uncles and aunts recently might have contributed to that), but now I think it's time to put a passcode on my phone. Limiting her, too!
I like that idea of limiting to only 1-2 "outlets".. maybe eliminating accounts all together is the next step for me.. thanks, Becca!
DeleteSame goes for me! But I wouldn’t blame or even dare throw my iPhone away because I have saved up for it, and I have waited so long to own one. I believe it’s a matter of discipline and balance in our lifestyle and activities.
ReplyDeleteVenus Eckert