5 Ways to Disconnect from Technology to Grow in Your Faith

Technology has certainly taken over our lives in the last 20 years. We walk around with phones because we’re afraid to miss a call. And those phones have become little computers because we’re afraid to miss some information. We’ve got portable DVD players and portable TVs in our cars because we’re afraid of our kids arguing with each other. rnWe’ve got seminars on iPods because we’re afraid of “wasting” a moment of “down” time. Here are 5 ways to disconnect from technology and reconnect with our Lord. Go outside. Get away from the air conditioner, the heater, the humidifier and whatever else is controlling your environment and breathe air. Smell the trees. Smell the flowers. Smell the decaying leaves. Smell is one of our strongest senses and it's connected to memory and emotion. Nature has been proven to have a calming influence on people so breathe deeply and make some memories. Visit a farmer’s market. Nothing makes me realize God created a perfect world more than enjoying – literally – the fruits of His labor. Eating a perfectly ripe piece of fruit or a vegetable is truly a sign that the world was carefully created by the Divine. That just couldn’t have happened by chance. Listen to the sounds of nature. From the rustle of the leaves to the chirping of the birds and the buzzing of bugs, everything that was created is living its purpose and contributing to the glorious planet that was made for us to care for. If that doesn’t make you dumb-struck with awe I’m not sure what will. Have a drink of water. It truly is" the stuff of life." We can live approximately 3 weeks without food although I wouldn’t recommend testing that theory. But we can only live for about 3 days without water. We sweeten it, we put liquor in it, but when it comes right down to it God gave us the most refreshing liquid there is. Look in the mirror. As hard as it is to do that without being self-conscious we should really be awe-struck at the thought that God created each and every one of us and designed the entire process that made us. Instead of complaining our thinning hair or expanding hips we should try a week of admiring ourselves and being thankful for what we have. It takes my breath away. In this time when we’re all focusing on the things we’ve lost and what we don’t have, we could all stand to spend a bit more time to focus on the abundant gifts God has given us that we experience every single day.