The Olden Days

I posted on my Facebook page a conversation that Isaac and I had in the van on the way to school. During the conversation he made reference to the olden days. I thought he was talking about hundreds of years ago, but unfortunately he was referring to the days when I was in school. Man, talk about making someone feel old!
As I was thinking about this conversation and reminiscing about my childhood and all the toys we didn't have back then...cell phones, tablet computers, computers (for my early childhood), video games, Facebook, Twitter...I wondered how I ever had any fun. How in the world did we know what was going on in the world? Then I watched the Daytona 500 last night an a driver had a special compartment made in his car so he could carry his iphone with him. Really...just in case he needs to take a call at 200 mph! Luckily for him there was a 2 hour jet fuel fire delay so he was tweeting and sending pictures all over. What broke the camel's back was the article headline I saw that read, "Our devices now own us." How true that is.
Are we better connected now then we were in the olden days? Have these devices of convenience lent us more free time, or have the invaded our lives in such a way they are consuming more time then saving? Does our need to check Facebook, Twitter, email, Pinterest take away from time we could be spending with family? I think so. Leave your cell phone at home once when you go to work or out shopping as Tracy and I both did last week. Talk about a strange feeling. We almost turned around to get them, but instead enjoyed a fairly quiet day with the boys. Quiet because we didn't have to answer to our cell phones. What would happen if you couldn't check any social media sights from 5pm to the time the kids go to bed? Do you find yourself in a better relationship with your smart device then family and friends?
I think I have been guilty of that, and I've decided to wean myself from the cell phone a social media a little bit. I'm not stopping them altogether, but I'm going to be more aware of the time I have with family and not let me need to constantly check in on the latest news take my attention away from my kids and wife. Pretty soon I'll be wishing Isaac would ask me questions about the olden days, and I don't want to wish I'd spent more time with them instead of on social media sites. Will you reevaluate where your time and energy is spent with me?

Give it up

The season of Lent has arrived and it is time for that annual ritual of giving something up for 40 days. I've never been very good at doing this. My standard response is, "I've given up giving something up for Lent." I guess I've always thought of it as a waste of time and silly really, but I'm not so sure I can dismiss this ritual so easily any more.

Lent is about taking stock of your relationship with God (among other things). To me it is about focusing on what the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus means to me. How does the fact that the God that created everything sent his son to live and die change how I live my life? I know I need to reflect on my relationship with the Spirit more and I need to work on strengthening it, and Lent provides a kick in the pants to do so.

So this year I'm going to give something up for Lent. If you're going to give something up then it truly needs to be a sacrifice. It needs to be something that you are going to miss and you'll have a hard time going without. I know someone who always states he gives up Brussel Sprouts...I'm fairly certain I sense the sarcasm, but the point is it has to be difficult. I saw on Facebook that some people were giving up the internet from 7pm to 7am. I've also seen some people giving up Facebook and texting for a certain time during the day. I also know someone who is giving up Diet Coke, and that truly will be a sacrifice...in fact Coca Cola stock might fall from loss of sales! The point is whatever you give up has to be hard so it reminds us of the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. Every time we choose not to have/do the thing we give up we are to be reminded of what this season is leading up to...Jesus' death and resurrection. So give up something and let it be a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and how that should/does impact your life. I'm giving up the internet/computer/cell phone from 7pm to 7am. Should give me plenty of time to reflect...will you join me?

I'm Back

Whoa...almost a year since my last post! I can't guarantee that I will post every week, but I suppose I could guarantee that I won't wait almost a year to post again. I'm sitting in my office, and it's Valentine's day, and I'm pondering the relationships between men and women. No I didn't forget my sweetheart this Valentine's Day, but I'm intrigued by the different responses to this day.

I see on Facebook some elaborate displays of affection...from dates planned to sweet, if not contrived, status updates stating their undying love for their certain loved one. I have a very weird reaction to those kinds of posts, but maybe that should be a topic for another blog. I have also talked to some people about today and I've gotten two responses: 1) the day is really over blown and over-hyped (well duh!), 2) my significant other and I have stated we don't need to get each other anything for today, we don't need to waste the money. Since when is doing something nice and showing your love through flowers or a small gift of whatever a waste of money! And for you men out there...I'm sure I'm stating the obvious, but if your wife says don't get her anything get her something anyway! It doesn't have to be big, a card, heck you can save the money and make the card yourself, but you'd better get something! I don't care how long you've been married...take a little time and do something.

Hallmark may have taken over Valentine's Day, but I think it is a good time to remember just how lucky you are to be with someone. If you're single and reading this post then I apologize, but it is impossible to talk about Valentine's Day and make you feel included too. If you don't have a Valentine take the time to call a family member or a friend and let them know how much they mean to you. Also, it might do us some good to remember that we are all loved by someone much greater than creation itself. The God of the universe loves us enough to send his Son to die for us, and God loves us enough to want to be intimately involved in our lives. If that isn't a fantastic Valentine's Day reminder then I don't know what is!