Thoughtful

There is much conversation about the need to manage one's time, avoid inevitable distractions by electronic devices, even to the point of purchasing apps that will force "down" or "disconnected" time.

I thought it appropriate that the first book I'm reading on my new kindle deals with just this issue. Found on the blog of a writer who's in process of producing a book about Sabbath, you can read the review here if you're interested.

Perhaps I'll give you my opinion later when I've finished the book. I'm taking it slow.

One issue I'm pondering just now. The writer speaks of our obsession with "work/life balance" and asks us to consider how this perspective may even be negative. If "work" is not an inherent part of "life" then it is no wonder we feel stretched and pressured. We need to acknowledge that a big part of our life is our work. How can we be intentional in ensuring that work part of living is also valuable and valued? As long as we keep "work" and "life" on opposite sides of the equation, we have limited ourselves. Still pondering...

(Oh, and by the way, this text would also work well for that second adult class you're considering.)

Posted by Marion

Calm

I debated which of several possible words I could use to introduce the thoughts I’ve been having today. I thought about stress, overwork, connection, technology, busy, loaded but decided to go with calm as the most positive word for our focus today.

It all began with a blog post that addressed a common theme of late: just how is our addiction to technology affecting our ability to find calm spaces for ourselves in the midst of busy lives? Apparently scientists have discovered that we may even be rewiring our brains with our constant need to be connected to email, cell phone, the internet; or to keep our attention constantly fed with new information, video games, bobbing from site to site to avoid even an instant of “boredom.”

As summer is approaching I’m noticing that most of my family, friends, acquaintances are speaking more and more of their anxiety about planning, packing, organizing, scheduling. What happened to the days when we spoke of the lazy days of summer, when the livin’ is easy? Where is the calm that comes with the welcome heat?

Is it a shift in the way our culture does summer? Or is it the rewiring of technology-soaked brains that need stimulation 24x7?

I’m hoping we haven’t lost the knack of finding time for relaxation, reflection, calm at some point, even if we have to schedule it! The author of that blog up above suggested that human beings, fed constant stimulus, may even forget how to pray. What do you think? Should I be worried?

No, I think I’ll just try to remain calm.

Posted by Marion