It Really is Good Works

That’s why we can be so sure that every detail

 in our lives of love for God is worked into something good

(Romans 8:28, MSG)

I have a love-hate relationship with technology. Actually, I have a love-hate relationship with technology gadgets. Devices that were meant to make my life easier have consumed my life to a point that I am missing out on life. Take for example that my GPS has become so critical to my travel that I no longer recognize milestones and monuments along the way of getting to my destination. Or the fact that my smart phone manages everything from the time that I get up daily to what I eat and drink to reminders of who I need to call to say Happy Birthday, except, without my telephone, I can’t, because I no longer have anyone’s number committed to memory.

I have reached a point where I am ready to disconnect from gadgets and some forms of social technology. I was inspired this morning as my husband and I were getting dressed. We were having a casual conversation when he heard his blackberry buzzing in the other room. He went to get it, but stopped talking mid-sentence, to respond to an email. In what felt like forever, I had flashbacks of interrupted meals, or our non-engaged teenager, or myriads of other personal irritants caused by my family’s addiction to gadgets. Then I went out for my morning walk and I had a meltdown: I refused to hit the START button to begin tracking my steps for the day.

I have become so obsessed with reaching 10k steps per day that I no longer enjoy exercise. So this morning, I walked just to walk. I noticed how much our neighborhood had transformed since the fall and how signs of spring were evident. Without the reminder of a clock, I decided to do something different, so I grabbed my hula hoop and jump rope and spent some time in the backyard exercising the way I used to enjoy it when I was a kid. Let's Move!!! #GimmeFive! And I had time to think about why today was so special.

Technology is good and really drives productivity improvements. As busy as we are, we cannot allow gadgets to cause us to miss out on the important details in our lives, purposed works, and relationships. I took some time to disconnect from gadgets and enjoyed the goodness of childhood exercise…and remembered, without the aid of my phone that today would have been my Big Daddy’s 111^th birthday. And to honor his memory, I am treating myself to ice cream and not scanning it into my smart phone app! Yes, all things, even detaching from my dependence on technology gadgets in order to really live life, work together for good. Do you have tips to share with others for disconnecting from technology? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.