Though I read it long ago, one of those pithy statements at the end of an Our Daily Bread devotional has come back to guide me recently.
It went something like this:
Patient: “Doc, I broke my arm in two places.”
Doctor: “Stay outa them places.”
I’ve been thinking about this lately in relation to the Internet and social media. It all seems to be louder, angrier and more reactionary with every passing day. On top of that, there’s so much “content” out there that seems pointless, to put it mildly.
A quick check of YouTube or Instagram proves this, but it really hit home one night when Randy and I were watching Master Chef: Legends (after having not watched broadcast television for many months). The show itself was good, but the programming previewed in the commercials seemed so vacuous and void of anything redeemable that it left me feeling a bit depressed.
The Bible doesn’t address 2021’s digital landscape specifically, but it certainly contains truths that are relevant today. Consider Psalm 12:8, for example: “The wicked prowl all around, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.”
That pretty much sums up the state of our world today, doesn’t it?
Thankfully, though, the scriptures don’t leave us defenseless against this sad situation. Psalm 119 offers a strategy, stated in the form of a prayer:
“Teach me, Lord, the meaning of your statutes, and I will always keep them. Help me understand your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart. Help me stay on the path of your commands, for I take pleasure in it. … Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in your ways. (Psalm 119:33-35, 37, emphasis added)
I don’t know about you, but that last part sounds a bit like “stay outa them places” to me.
We can’t control or dictate what other people look at for the most part, but we can manage where we fix our own gaze, and for how long. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we actually can keep our “eyes from looking at what is worthless.”
This might sound simple enough, but our devotion to our screens can make it tricky. How does the thought of going offline for a day—or even an hour—make you feel? I’m no expert, but I feel pretty confident suggesting that how we respond to this question is a good indication of exactly how addicted we are to our electronics.
And how badly we need to do something about it.
Last April, after noticing how much time I spent was wasting clicking from one article to another on my favorite news and commentary sites, I decided to stop looking at them altogether.
I still hear news on the radio. I get some email newsletters and Randy keeps me up to date on current events that interest me. But for the most part, no news is good news for my mental health.
I know this—I can see it and feel it—but even now, there are times when I really want to check the latest headlines. When I’m tired, bored or feeling out of sorts, the temptation is greater—as it often is for other addictive behavior.
Fortunately, as 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises, God won’t allow me to be tempted beyond my capacity to resist. He gives me a way to escape, I just have to use it.
I can literally close my browser and get up out of my chair. I can get outa that place, if only for the moment.
Quitting the news cold turkey was a good start, but last month I began sensing a draw to do something else when it comes to stewarding my time and attention. I wasn’t sure what, exactly, but I knew something was brewing in my heart and soul.
I wasn’t feeling prompted to fast from food one day a month, like I used to do many years ago. But what about “fasting” from the internet one day a week? Once the idea came to me, it wouldn’t let go.
So for the last month or so, that’s what I’ve been doing. Aside from texting family members and playing music on Spotify, I’m completely offline on Thursdays. No email, social media or Google.
I don’t have Instagram or email on my phone, so that helps. I’m not intentionally spending long periods of time praying or anything like that, but I do find myself engaging in more conversations with Jesus throughout the day.
I thought it would be really hard.
I thought I would struggle much more than I do.
Instead, it’s almost a relief.
One Thursday, among all my other regular activities, I had a very productive texting conversation with my daughter at college. I read three chapters in Mere Christianity. I wrote most of a blog post.
Nothing worthless about any of that, but plenty of life and meaning.
Now I look forward to Thursdays. They’ve been recalibrating my body, soul and spirit in ways I didn’t even know I needed. They’re helping me “live with a heart of integrity in my house” and assisting as I try to “not let anything worthless guide me.” (Psalm 101:2b-3a)
You know me. I’m not in the habit of telling everyone they should do what I do. There’s nothing legalistic about this; it’s simply a practice that is bringing me life right now.
I will say this, though. If the “places” you’re spending your time are sucking the life out of you—perhaps even turning you into someone you don’t recognize or don’t even like—you might want to consider staying outa them places. Even if it’s only for one day a week.
♥ Lois
We can’t control or dictate what other people look at for the most part, but we can manage where we fix our own gaze, and for how long. Share on X Spending Thursdays entirely offline has been recalibrating my body, soul and spirit in ways I didn’t even know I needed. Share on XP.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, Inspire Me Monday, #HeartEncouragement and Grace & Truth.
32 comments
Such wisdom! I try to do this on Sundays, but am probably too casual about it. Thinking “let’s stay outta them places!” will help! Thank you 🙂
You’re welcome, Bethany! That’s great that you try to take a break on Sundays … I feel like any regular time offline (casual or not) is beneficial. 🙂
Love this idea, Lois! I have been reading Wendell Berry’s thoughts on community lately. Even though his essays were written 30 years ago, they are still relevant today. It seems like the apps that are meant to facilitate communication actually help to destroy community. A weekly fast is a wonderful practice.
Good to hear from you, Laurie! Don’t you love it when words written many years ago are still fresh today? I’ve felt the same many times as I’ve been reading through Mere Christianity lately. 🙂
What a beautiful idea to stay off-screen on Thursdays, Lois. I’ve been trying to do that *somewhat* on Sundays, and when I succeed, I love it. Thanks for the encouragement to renew my efforts again to “stay outa them places” that aren’t good for my soul.
Sunday seems like a good day to do this, Lisa. I find it easier to do when I’m alone at home … I wonder why that is? 🙂
I’ve quit the news, and I’ve been sensing the same ‘brewing in my heart and soul’ but I haven’t been able to put my finger on it. Thanks for sharing about your fast from the internet one day a week.
You’re welcome, Lisa. I’m so thankful that God faithfully follows up on those nudges, even if it often takes a while! 🙂
I am also on a mission to better curate the content of my life. For me it’s not so much anxiety as it is overwhelm–just too much everything! I want.to be present for my people, but my brain is tired.
I love how you put it, Michele … “a mission to better curate the content of my life.” It makes it sound important, which it absolutely is!
Oh I know why you mean about giving something up, even for a short time, and feeling such relief! I too had to stop filling my head with empty things! Thanks for this encouragement 😄
That’s a compelling way to put it, Sarah … “filling my head with empty things.” That makes it even more apparent what we’re doing when we aimlessly scroll or jump from one site to another, feeding whatever hunger we might be experiencing at the time.
You’re spot on, Lois. It is a relief …
You model this so well, my friend. 🙂
So much wisdom here! There have definitely been points during the pandemic when I’ve spent far too long reading news articles, and it is not a healthy habit. We do have to be intentional about what we fill our minds with. I really like the idea of taking a day completely offline. I have to use the internet a lot for work so one day a week would be hard, but I would like to try it, even if it’s less regularly, to see what kind of impact it has.
That’s a good point about needing the internet for work, Lesley … especially now when so many people are still working remotely. When a whole day isn’t realistic, perhaps parts of days or an hour every day might be helpful. I think what you said about being intentional is really the key … to make a plan, try it for a while and see if it makes any difference. Doing something is better than doing nothing, I think. 🙂
Such an important message. I try to be so diligent in what I fill my mind with – but even with my pretty strict standards, most of the things I watch on TV and movies leave me feeling vacuous and gross.
I know how you feel, Lauren. It’s an ongoing battle, isn’t it?
So good. I remember a therapist talking about women’s magazines and how they promote unrealistic expectations, especially with edited photos and our body image. And yes this was before social media was on our phones. She said, “If you feel worse after looking at them, then stop reading them.” That has always stuck with me. I can make myself miserable by what I look at, or I can look at things that make me feel better. My choice.
That’s such a good way of putting it, Theresa. I wish every teenage girl and woman could hear that therapist and take her words to heart. Thanks for sharing this, my friend.
Oh my this is exactly how I’ve been feeling !!! You could not have put it better. I needed this email today. Thank you so much.
You are very welcome, Karen! And thank YOU for your kind words. I’m glad the post arrived when you needed it! 🙂
Lois, thank you for sharing this blessed message. What a great idea and love your insights. Blessings.
Thanks, Paula! I hope your week is off to a good start. 🙂
“Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless.” Hmm… that seems to mean stop the aimless scrolling to me!
There is so much good on the internet; but you do have to be careful. Also, even when it’s good, it’s easy to get out of balance. Thanks for calling my attention to the idea of limiting a day a week. That sounds good to me.
I totally agree about the internet, Jerralea. I suppose “everything in moderation” applies here, as in so many other areas!
Before the last election, and then throughout the pandemic, I’ve been “hiding” on Facebook those strident voices that only seem interested in stirring up strife. I don’t want to get rid of it completely, because that’s how I keep up with extended family. I also don’t watch the news. I like to turn on the Christian radio station at the top of the hour once or twice a day and hear the headlines. Then I can look up anything I want to know more about. Or ask my husband, who is a news hound. 🙂
There is so much to look at these days, and so much of it is worthless. I don’t remember that phrase jumping out at me before in reading that verse, but it’s convicting! As you said, exactly how we handle it may look different from person to person, but it’s important to evaluate what we look at. Even what’s not “bad” in itself may still not have any worth for us.
My husband is a news hound too, Barbara … he gives me the highlights and I appreciate that. Like you, I’ll look up specific stories but the key for me is to stick with just that and not go from one article to another until I’ve wasted an hour and all the joy has been sucked right out of me! I don’t want to keep my head in the sand, but I also don’t want to suffocate with my head above the sand. I understand the need to stay connected on Facebook … you’re right about different people finding different ways to handle this. 🙂
Love this: “I don’t want to keep my head in the sand, but I also don’t want to suffocate with my head above the sand.” Me, too.
It’s such a balancing act, isn’t it?
I’m finding myself feeling the same lately – too much going on in the world around us and it is draining. All of it draining. We need to disconnect so that we are better able to connect to that which feeds our souls. You’ve offered much wisdom today, Lois.
Thanks, Joanne. 🙂 And you’re so right–all of it is draining. This seems to be one way to close the drain for a little while, if only to get re-energized and refocused for the days when going being offline isn’t practical or even possible. Hugs, friend!