BY DAWN REED

It seemed like a genius idea, and I felt efficient, filling every spare moment with something. Having a small computer in my hand for several hours a day, I wanted to be productive, not wasting a minute.

There were people to text, email or message, Instagram memes to chuckle over and share. Lots to scroll, comment on or “like.”

Pavlov’s dogs did not have anything on me. When an alert sounded on my phone, I did not drool but was quick to move.

I checked texts and emails several times a day. What if someone needs something important? I wondered too often.

Three library apps were on my phone. Mysteries are always downloaded to dig into at any given moment. If I had to wait, it was fine by me. A few chapters would pass the time. The busy-ness seemed to shorten my attention span.

Several months ago, I read a story on the internet that a teenage girl had been in a car wreck. In between the here and hereafter, she met Jesus. He told her He had been trying to speak to her and practically everyone in our country, but we were all too busy with our phones to hear Him. CONVICTED.

I saved it somewhere but cannot find it. While I cannot cite my source, I can tell you what it taught me.

Each morning, I pray for the Lord to lead me, guide me and speak to me. I mean it, really, I do, but within minutes, I’m checking the weather at home, in Lexington where our daughter lives, in Aurora, Indiana, where my son lives, Bowling Green where my sister lives and Tok, Alaska. (It is 38 degrees there. I just looked.)

I check news headlines from two sources, my calendar, my Amazon cart and the running to-do list in my Notes app. I take pictures of our dog in various stages of her morning. Then I am off about my day with phone in hand. I had not stopped long enough for Jesus to speak.

I am missing real conversations. How am I so connected to people across town, the state and country, but not the family, the friend, or the person sitting right across the table? The addiction to electronics is real. I have to make a change. Instead of my phone controlling me, I need to be the one in charge.

In Jeremiah 33:3, the LORD said, “Call to me and I will answer you…” Yet, if I am too busy paying attention to my handheld computer, will I hear Him? I definitely need His help!

Early this morning, as I let my dog roam around the yard, I did not have my phone. I saw four Monarch butterflies flittering about, heard birds chirping “Good morning!” to each other, waved at the neighbors, saw spent flowers fall from a dogwood, and enjoyed the spring green all over the mountain trees. I need to be intentional about being still and paying attention to what is around me. I do not want to miss important things because my eyes are on my phone.

Psalm 46:10 reminds us, “Be still and know that I am God.” Being still is a lost art. I truly know that He is God, but more and more in my mind and spirit, I just need to be still.