When Technology Takes Over: Fighting for Balance

Drew and I recently went out on a date and were having a lovely evening. After we had ordered I glanced across the room. Nearly every single person in the restaurant was looking at their phones, instead of the person they were sharing a meal with. I looked at Drew and we talked about how we never wanted to follow suit.

Let's be honest, just for a minute or two. How much time do you spend on some kind of electronic device? Phone, TV, laptop, a Netflix account, Pinterest, the list can go on and on. I'll be honest, if I'm bored, I'm on my phone Instagram account. My bible study (which I love dearly), is on my laptop and is also accessible through my phone. As a photographer, editing pictures and marketing them wisely online is an essential part of my job. As a blogger, if I didn't have internet access, a computer and my phone to help take pictures, I wouldn't be able to write these lovely posts. So much of my daily work schedule revolves around the internet in some shape or form. All of these devices and tools are super and within the context of using them in a healthy way can do wonders and a whole lot of good. But I wonder if they are also harming the way we communicate, the way we interact with friends and the way future generations will experience the world. If there is not a balance, then the question that I'm left with is this: has technology taken over?

I sat at my computer overwhelmed earlier last week with feelings of inadequacy, wondering if what I was producing through my camera lens and words on my blog would truly matter. I felt this way after perusing fellow bloggers sites with like-minded passions and then spent time reflecting on why I was feeling so insecure. I think that there is something that everyone could agree on: we all want to be known and be heard. I believe that the Lord placed this desire within us to actually draw us back to himself. He is truly the only one who can fill the void and bring our hearts back to the truth that He is all that we need. Sadly I think that many of us can say that we fill this void with social media likes and comments and often find our self worth there. I don't think that's what the Lord intended and I'm so thankful that it's not.

My heart's desire is to build community with other women, for someone to stumble upon a picture and feel inspired, to create a healthy recipe for their family and to be encouraged to seek Jesus. That's what I feel led to do through this creative space but I never want it to take away from time that I could be making a memory with my husband, taking my little pups to the park, grabbing a cup of tea with a friend, creating something original and not just a Pinterest replica or (dare I say it) sitting in stillness for a bit. It's almost like there is always a void to be filled these days and I never want it to consume me. I don't want to waste time and knowingly allow technology to become an idol in my life. I want to fight for moments of simplicity and have technology free days as part of the norm in our life. But I also would never want anyone to feel the inadequate by reading my blog or looking at my photographs, I truly want to encourage and not discourage. I am just as guilty of indulging too often in what technology has to offer, but I want to use my influence wisely and choose to be more balanced. Do anyone ever feel the same? What boundaries do you take to protect your heart against technology taking over?