So I read this article (Do You Need A Digital Sabbath?) the other day, and it’s target audience is, I think, youth pastors. If you’re thinking, “I didn’t know you were a youth pastor,” you can stop thinking now. I’m not. But I was reading the article anyway; I think they allow that.
I read it because the title was so intriguing. I read it because I am an iPhone junkie. I have texted from the car, checked e-mails at red lights, and sent both during meetings. Rudest person ever, right?
Except I’m not, really. I promise. And I don’t text while driving anymore. I have, on occasion, sent a quick “I’m on my way,” at a red light but I’m trying to curb even that nasty habit.
Still, I love that I can wake up and check my weather app from the cozy comfort of my bed. It’s so much more convenient than flipping around channels trying to find out if it’s going to be 45° or 75° today, either of which is a real possibility around here at this time of year.
I love the connected part—that my girlfriends and I can decide when and where to have lunch, even if we’re currently in a Very Important Meeting.
I’m a multi-tasking addict, and love that I can schedule a guy to give me a quote on a new furnace, AC & water heater while I’m grabbing trail mix and the hugest amount of lettuce you could ever buy at Costco.
So when Mr. Youth Pastor asked, “Do you need a digital Sabbath?” he caught my attention.
The idea of a Sabbath is to set aside one day—traditionally from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday—to rest and worship. In this case, the writer Andrew Burden chose to have a “digital Sabbath” from sundown Saturday until Monday morning, forgoing all interactions with his gadgets. He doesn’t tweet, Facebook, check email or peek at Google Reader. That’s either very impressive or completely nuts, I’m still trying to decide which.
Mr. Burden doesn’t say exactly how long he’s been practicing a digital Sabbath but I got the impression that it wasn’t a new practice for him; that he’d been doing it for some length of time. His point, essentially, is that by disconnecting from technology for a brief, but regular time, we are better able to re-connect with “real life.” He challenged his readers to try it, and see.
He’s got me thinking. The idea that I am not totally present with what’s happening in Real Life when I am checking my email or updating my Facebook page absolutely resonates with me. I am partly here, partly there. Perhaps it’s because this very thought has been bugging me that this article caught my attention. So maybe Saturday night to Sunday night I could give it a try.
Except for checking texts from my teen, who, I’m quite certain, will not be practicing a digital Sabbath.
How about you? Does this idea click for you? Seem insane? Or are you ahead of the curve: do you already disconnect regularly?
I do tend to stay offline all day on Saturday, although now that I have a smartphone I may sneak a peek at my mailbox. But the laptop stays closed so we ALL get a break from the screen.
Oops, that was me on that last one.
OK, don't cut your kids out is something I totally agree with. How 'bou this one: remember your folks don't live close enough to visit. Stay in touch with us whenever we call, ok? Love you.
I'm the author of the article. A couple clarifications…
1. I'm not a paid youth pastor, but a volunteer youth leader.
2. I do my digital Sabbath from Saturday night to Monday morning, NOT Friday night. Now that would be nuts! I work on video editing most every Saturday, so I have to be able to connect or I can't work.
3. I think it's awesome you found the article! I have been trying to follow its journeys via Twitter and Google searches (did you notice Google contains the letters e-g-o?).
4. I have been doing this for just about 2 months now. I have quickly come to cherish the down time.
5. Don't discount the possibility of some dialogue with your teen (or younger boys) about some intentional disconnection time. We may address this topic with our youth group sometime next school year.
6. I still text in my (stopped) car, but I, too, am trying to keep it to a minimum.
Thanks so much for the link and for your thoughts!
I hadn't ever actually considered taking a digital Sabbath. I probably could use one, too… Hmmm….