Distracted…
Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash
As I was sitting in the waiting room, waiting for my once a year dermatology check-up, I left my phone in my purse.
I looked around and three other people were in the waiting room with me.
All three were on their phones. They had not even looked up when I walked in and sat down.
Typically, that would be what I would be doing as well if I were just sitting in a boring old waiting room with time to spare.
However, since January of this year, I have taken a digital fast of sorts. I logged off of Instagram, as I do each January, to reset and realign my thoughts, my distractions, and my heart.
As I sat in that waiting room, I was so intrigued by the focus each of those three people had on their phones. Mesmerized almost, as their gazes never left their screens.
Chuckling to myself, “Hmm, so this is what I usually look like to others as well.”
A few minutes in, I began to look around the room and notice the paint on the walls, the artificial plants scattered around the room, the coat rack with a couple of dangling jackets hanging on…
The three people around me…
The woman with red pants and white top, the man in a blue plaid shirt and jeans, the other lady in a white dress with sandals…I took in every inch.
Then, I started paying attention to the receptionist and her conversation with her co-workers.
I was truly fascinated by all of these things that I had never observed before in this waiting room that I had been sitting in for years.
For a moment I was taken back to the days without our cell phones…when life had fewer screen distractions, or really zero screen distractions.
It was a sweet place.
Listen, I love my phone as much as anyone, however, some things are missed when we are constantly engaged in those phones.
We miss smiles of those sitting in waiting rooms with us, we miss light conversation and hellos to those around us, we miss the little things to observe—like a dusty old plant in the corner.
A few minutes in, I almost caved and grabbed my phone to have something to do as I waited.
Nope, I changed my mind.
I am going to discipline myself and continue to observe.
Then, I began to pray for those three in the room with me. Praying over them from the top of their heads to the bottom of their feet. Praying for good results, praying for their families, their health, their salvation…all the things.
About 7 minutes in, I realized something…
How much have I missed around me being constantly sucked into my phone?
My heart sank.
I began to pray…
“Lord, please do not let me miss anything again. I repent of being distracted by my phone. Convict me, Lord, when I need to open my eyes and see the things and the people around me.”
4 months into this digital fast, I am noticing some things changing…
*anxiety has lessened
*comparison to others has altogether halted
*i pray more.
*i read more.
*i listen better.
*i find myself engaging with strangers more—because there is nothing else to do when in line or in a waiting room . :)
*i see things that i did not see before.
*i have become more observant.
*i am less irritable.
*i watch the news less.
*i am more patient.
*i am writing more.
*i am sleeping MUCH better.
I know, it has only been a few months, but something has definitely shifted in my heart.
The passage in Luke 10 swiftly comes to mind regarding distractions…
Mary and Martha opened their home to Jesus and His disciples.
Mary quietly sat at the feet of Jesus, watching Him, observing Him, listening to Him.
Meanwhile, her sister Martha ran around making sure everything was perfect.
“But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made…” Luke 10:40
Martha then complained to Jesus that she was busy working while her sister was sitting at His feet.
Jesus responded…
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41
Jesus knew He would not always be with them, and Mary wanted to soak up every ounce with Him, while Martha was distracted by her to-do list.
Whoa.
This reminds me so much of motherhood.
We can get so caught up in things, and activities, and to-do lists…
When what is often needed most is to sit down on the floor with our babies, or rock them to sleep, or read them a story, or look our teenager or adult child in the eye face to face and listen to them, or cook our college kid a home cooked meal, or send them a note of encouragement…
There will always be distractions.
What we need most is wisdom to discern what God is asking of us in each moment.
I find this to be much easier when not distracted by the screen on my phone.
It is never to late to start. God doesn’t want us to live in guilt and regret, He wants to show us a new way. A better way…with less distractions and MORE interactions with Him and those around us.
John 10:10 tells us that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy…but Jesus came to give us LIFE and LIFE to the ABUNDANCE!
The abundant life that Jesus offers is here, in the present…right now.
We don’t have to sit and scroll and wait for God…He is with us right now.
He is with us in the waiting rooms…
He is with us in the grocery store lines…
He is with us as we fold our thousandth load of laundry…
He is with us as we prepare dinner for our loved ones…
It is all HOLY.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17
The next time we are in a long line, or at a red light, or in a waiting room…
Let’s use that time to observe. To pray. To give thanks!
Instead of scrolling on phones, let’s pray. Let’s engage with strangers around us. Let’s do the opposite of what the world around us is doing.
It will not be wasted! God loves His people and we are to love them, notice them, and pray for them!
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2
scrolling less and praying more,
jill
