Reflect
When smart phones first came on the scene, they seemed just like handy gadgets. Little did we know that these trojan horses and their apps would cause such massive social change—much of it harmful, especially for younger generations. As people of faith, we’re called to discern carefully how to manage smart phones and their myriad digital distractions.
Pray
Lord, we are weak-willed,
Ever falling prey to bright and shiny objects.
May we treat our digital devices
As tools and not talismans.
Deliver us from distraction
So we might learn
To be truly present and content
With all that is truly real.
Act
It is incredibly difficult to resist the distractive power of our phones. Here are three ways to resist. First, turn off your notifications and use your phone’s focus modes so it isn’t constantly pinging you. Second, when you get home, plug your phone into the charger and leave it there rather than carry it around with you—so you experience a little friction if you want to check it. Finally, consider a “tech Sabbath”: going phone-free for one day a week.
