Too Connected

February 2nd, 2009

I am a “connect-aholic”. They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. So there it is! I have a problem! Everywhere I go at every hour of the day I have been plugged in and connected to work. It all started three years ago when I got my first laptop. All of the sudden with this great technology I could leave the office and take work with me. E-mails, blogs, and all the internet has to offer was constantly at my finger tips. This technology was intended to make life easier by allowing me to work anywhere but instead it made things much more complicated because the line between work and home became very blury. Instead of leaving work at the office to go home to engage with my family I was now taken work home with me. Last year I had enough! It was time to upgrade my computer and so I made the decision to take a step back in time and get a good old fashioned desktop computer. Now there was no choice. I had to leave my e-mail at the office!

But just like any good addict I had to find a way to get my fix and so shortly after making the bold life changing decision to go back in time to desktop world technology began calling my name again and I broke down and got an Iphone. With this simple decision my addiction reached new heights! The apps were unbelievable and the speed at which I could write and receive e-mail was insane. I went back to my old ways of blurring the lines between work and home. I found it impossible to fully disengage from work because my Iphone was never further than 5 feet away at all times just in case that important e-mail came in that I had to respond to. I found myself checking e-mail everynight before I went to bed. I would wake up and check e-mail before I would have a quiet time with the Lord. Talk about a serious addiction! I would pay attention to technology before I would take time to listen to God!

I finally realized just recently that something had to change. Technology had gotten the best of me. Because I was never fully disconnected from work I could not fully engage my family. They deserve better than that! They deserve my best when I come home but instead that were just getting a partially engaged husband and father who was constantly checking e-mail and working on the next great ministry idea for the church. My priorities had begun to slip. I realized that I was placing work in front of my family. This is not the way it is supposed to be! It was time to make a drastic change! I made a deal with Megan (my incredibly amazing patient wife) that I would spend no more time checking e-mail, reading blogs, or surfing the internet while at home. If these activities truly are for the sake of ministry than I can do them while at the office. If they are not for the purpose of ministry than they are most likely a waste of time and certainly not more important than spending quality time with Megan, Mckenna, Brody, and Anna Beth!

As much as I love my Iphone I had to say goodbye! Unfortunatley I am locked into a contract so saying goodbye took a little creativity. Last week I went to Wal-Mart and purchased a cheap disposable cell phone. At the end of each day at the office I am taking my sim card out of the Iphone and placing it the disposable cell phone. Now when I leave the office all I can receive are simple old fashioned phone calls. No e-mails and no internet. It was time for me to start fighting to put my family ahead of ministry instead of allowing ministry to control my every ounce of energy. My family is my most important ministry and if I fail at home than I fail as a minister! Are these steps a little drastic? Maybe so, but my family is worth it. Is technology evil? Absolutley not! But anything that comes between me and my family or even more importantly me and my Savior is a temptation that must be dealt with. As I have gone through this learning process I am reminded of the example of Jesus himself as He faced the most demanding schedule that any minister could ever imagine. “After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.” Mark 6:46

If Jesus needed to disconnect from the crowds of ministry to be refreshed and restored with the Father, how much more do I need to do the same! I hope and pray that learning process I have been through can be an encouragement to you. If we are going to grow closer to Christ and lead our families according to the priorties of scripture we must be intentional about clearly defining the line between work and family while fighting to keep our priorities in their proper place. Christ first, Family second, and career third.

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

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