A study of contrasts (part 2): Unplugged

My husband and I recently returned from wonderful 10-day getaway to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. We spent most of our time away either on a cruise ship or in foreign countries.  The cruise ship charged $20 per megabyte, so we were easily inspired to fast from cell phone and internet use during our trip.  I really thought the digital fast might be difficult for me but surprisingly found the break to be quite refreshing.

Disadvantages of not having internet or cell phone access:

• We never got to talk to our kids while we were away.  During our last extended overseas trip over five years ago, being able to skype with our daughter sustained me while we were apart.  With this trip, we just trusted that our kids were having a great time with their grandparents.
• We could not keep up with our friends while we were away.  We found out after we returned that a friend had been through a rough time following the birth of her third child.  The child had some health concerns at birth, and then the mother had to be readmitted to the hospital.  We missed out on a chance to pray for our friends and support them during that difficult time.
• My husband and I got separated from one another at least twice while on the ship.  Trying to find your spouse on the decks of a boat carrying 4,400 people is no easy task.  Had we had cell phone access, we could have spent a few more hours together during our trip instead of hunting for one another all over the ship.
• When we returned, we each faced over 850 new emails, dozens of voice mails, and a plethora of computer work requiring our attention.

Advantages of being unplugged during our vacation:

• Without computer work to do each evening, I found myself ready to fall asleep around 11pm each night instead of my more typical 2:30 A.M. bedtime.  I usually get my second wind around midnight and then have trouble falling asleep, but I discovered that if I can go to bed earlier before the second wind hits, I can reset my internal clock to a more reasonable sleep/wake cycle. 
• Without internet commitments, we had more time for reading. My husband read many books on his phone so at least some technology was involved. 

• When my husband wasn't reading, he was usually talking to me.  We enjoyed so many wonderful conversations while unplugged.

• Without the internet, we could not work, so we had to play.  He embarrassed me on the putt-putt course, but I put him in his place during our first round of ping-pong.  He made quite the comeback in the next two rounds, however, winning the set.  We had a lot of fun on the waterslide, too.

I'm at the top, ready to drop!



DC always makes a big splash!

• When we left on our trip, I was experiencing another bout of back, neck and shoulder pain.   Having the break from the computer, however, gave my neck and back a much needed rest so that I was almost pain free by the end of the trip.
• I also experienced a strange sense of freedom by being unplugged from social networking sites.  Only God and my husband knew where I was and what I was doing throughout the trip, and that felt really nice.
• During my daily quiet times with the Lord, I did not have access to www.biblegateway.com or other online Bible study tools.  It's amazing how much more we can HEAR God when we slow down long enough to flip through the pages of a non-digital Bible while looking up verses and cross references instead of finding these verses on-line with a single click. 
  

Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."