BY JESSICA LANDMON
I recently made a decision. A big one. I deleted social media from my phone. Now this isn’t in any way a condemnation towards social media. In fact, you are probably reading this blog on one of those platforms right now. However, having this easy access on my phone became a distraction for me. Any time I had a free moment, I would quickly grab my phone and aimlessly scroll through my feed wasting countless minutes of my day. I realized that this mindless preoccupation needed to end.
I was recently at a doctor’s appointment where I normally would have spent the entire time in the waiting room scrolling through my phone. Instead, I decided to keep my phone in my pocketbook, pick up my head, and just look around. Here’s what I saw. Not surprisingly, most of the room had their eyes fixed on their screens. However, I was still able to exchange smiles, even with masks on, with the woman sitting across from me. I also observed another woman – a very nervous woman – in the room, which gave me the opportunity to pray for her. And, I spotted a son lovingly and patiently caring for his elderly mother. What I saw was life playing out all around me.
Here’s what I’m learning. Social distancing isn’t separating people – our phones are! There are people out there that are worthy of seeing and noticing. There are people who need a smile, even if it is only visible above the mask. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. How can we be if we are too preoccupied with our phones?
Again, I am not condemning social media. I will continue to use it as necessary – from my desktop. But for me, deleting it from my phone has removed the temptation to distract me when there are better opportunities around me. And even if there aren’t, just sitting quiet is something our minds don’t often get to do.
I am responsible to God in how I use my time. Obviously, there is nothing sinful about looking at social media. But often there is nothing beneficial about it either!
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. – 1 Corinthians 10:23