I finished Unfriend Yourself by Kyle Tennant. It has me devising a plan for my internet use over the next few weeks. I have been contemplating an internet fast to go with my Daniel Fast for the Lenten season. Not sure how this will play out yet. I will be praying about it all but I will blog no matter what.
With a business and scout communications I will still need to check and send some e-mail at least once a day and probably just keep abreast of the chef facebook but I won't be on Google during that time at all. I might wind up with a timer and daily limit to stay on track. I have been getting more and more internet free since the month we had to be offline.
I have given up some things already and it has made a big difference in my days and with my family. The kids are already offline most of the time and they made that decision on their own. Facebook and social media just really held nothing for them and they have so many other things they love more. I do not believe this is an idol for me or anyone in our home but I desire to be more techie free in my heart and this is one way to achieve that.
After that month offline it seems so much easier to make this decision. I realized then that when I am offline it is not that big of a deal. LOL It was a blip on the radar for some and a nothing for others. My true self and my true life exists face-to-face with people right here that I know in real life and in my family. I am plugging in offline, so to speak, to the people around me more and more and plugging in here less and less. Sure there are a few "online only friends" that mean a great deal to me but for the most part people offline are the reality.
Tennant speaks of the online life as a false sense of relationship and community. Tennant speaks of God's design for true relationship and face-to-face communication. The online life is usually one sided and very self promoting... narcissistic, if you will. I don't want to be that person and I am really not interested in hanging out with that person either. For a little 60 page book (more like an extended research paper or thesis) it was packed and I enjoyed it very much. I believe he is right in the things he shared about that false sense of community. I realize that he is right when I think of a recent experience of a friend, who passed away, getting more birthday wishes than I did this year and our birthdays were just a few days apart. Moving on is made easier when stuff like that sinks in. It is a good thing when we realize we are not all that and a bag of chips. Humbling is good. I have been humbled and God is showing me so much in that. The online life and social media is isolating and I am seeing that in my own life as I look back at my years online.
Social media seems to be more of a culprit in this than blogging. I blog for my family who cannot be here with the kids all the time and to share with a few friends who are interested in what is happening here but I have no dreams of being one of those hugely popular mommy blogs or book bloggers or whatever. I don't even have my blog posting to the blogger updates so it is limited in who is even aware that it is here. I am just not seeking those things here. I just want a place to record some things for family and friends who are interested.
I am posting recital stuff sometime tomorrow for Mamaw and pictures of some pinewood derby fun and weekend stuff. God is continually showing me how lovely life in my home really is... not perfect but, indeed, it is a lovely life.
For today... I have two books lined up for the next two weeks and one for next weekend ready to go.
Oldest boy's girlfriend has shared this title with me. I picked it up at the library and cannot wait to dig in. She and her mother loved it.
This one is from my shelf and I have been itching to get to it. Unfriend Yourself quotes Carr and so did that other book I read a bit from called Winter of Our Disconnect. I think that going to the original source will prove to be great reading and challenging all in one. So, it is time to read this.
This will be the third time through on this one for me. It will be my weekend read next weekend.
We are studying Ephesians in our WOW study group. This is a small commentary on Ephesians.
I am also committing a lot of verses from Ephesians to memory this coming year. The list has been started.
I am reading in Jeremiah, too. It is slow going because of the study in conjunction but I am in no hurry. I want to spend an adequate amount of time really soaking it in as I go. Whizzing through scripture has never been something that has worked well for me. I like to chew... a true ruminating person am I. LOL
So, the week will begin quietly and thoughtfully after a really hard and long week behind.
We have guests coming for dinner Friday, too. There will be lots of cleaning and clearing again this week and puttering as I go through my days. I love weeks like this!
One more thing... my FIL is in ICU... infected knee has been drained and he is a very serious diabetic so this is a very serious thing they have done. Healing and wound care will be essential for the next few months and he is not a good patient. This is a reality check for him. He changes the diet or he slowly dies a very painful and crippling death. Pray for him. He is stubborn but he has an amazing wife who can help him through this if he will humble himself and let her. Lots of prayer certainly needed right now.
