"CONNECT OR DISCONNECT?"

Monday, March 28th, 2022

SCRIPTURE:

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. – Mark 1:35

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:

Last week, I was leading a retreat for clergy at a beautiful Catholic Retreat & Prayer Center. One evening, about fifteen minutes prior to our worship service starting, I noticed someone sitting in our room working on a laptop. I introduced myself and learned that this gentleman was a contract laborer for the retreat center’s internet technology and communications system. We had a really great conversation.

This man had been working in the IT field for many years, he had worked for huge multi-million-dollar companies, CEO’s, Presidents, and higher up associates of large businesses, etc. This guy had quite a resume and significant experience. He began to tell me how he got connected with doing work for the retreat center. He said, he had gotten a phone call about possibly providing IT services for a retreat center. So, he drove up from Mint Hill (Charlotte area) about two hours away. And when he arrived, he was expecting to meet with the president, or a board chairman, director, etc. And to his surprise he met Father David, a Catholic Priest who runs the place.

This man began to tell me that this project here at the retreat center was one of the most blessed yet most challenging jobs he had ever worked on. I asked what made it so challenging and his response has left an impression on me.

He said that the retreat center was really wrestling with whether or not they wanted to provide internet technology services. You see, a retreat center is a place where guests are invited to literally “retreat” or withdraw from their busy lives. This particular retreat center is a Catholic Prayer Center, a place where guests are invited to experience God while they’re there. Guests break away for a retreat to intentionally unplug, disconnect, let go, unwind, so as to simply be present with The ONE who is present with them. Disconnecting and unplugging for retreatants, is a means of “not-conforming to the pattern of this world” (Rom 12). It is a means of withdrawing from the “things of this world” and connecting with God through the beauty of God’s creation, prayer, meditation and quiet contemplation.

This retreat center is literally in the middle of the woods, a good hour north of Greensboro area almost to the Virginia line. It is out in the woods, quiet, peaceful, birds and deer, hardly any other houses around. This place didn’t have the internet, a television, and hardly had a cell signal. Again, it was out there.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

So, I have been thinking about this conversation we had. It has really made me think about modern technology and its effect on our spiritual lives. Yes, technology can be a great blessing for us, but it can also derail anyone who is striving to grow in their relationship with Christ.

I am reminded of monasteries, and our early church desert fathers. They literally disconnected, withdrew, broke away from the things of this world so they could intentionally invest in their own spiritual lives with no distractions, so-to-speak. Today, when we break away on retreat, we may have no cell phone signal and no internet or tv, which is great and perhaps one of the main reasons persons go on retreat in the first place. To unplug. This has made me think about my own rhythm of spiritual formation and how I might be able to “unplug” without having to drive out so far to a retreat center. I need to be disciplined enough to cut-off the technology when I’m often surrounded by it.

So, how about you? Do you find the use of technology to be a distraction in your relationship with Christ? Let me ask that again, is whatever technology you use a distraction in your relationship with Christ? And if so, how? What might you do differently, or what habit do you think you might need to change?

And also, how often are you finding the time to break away? To disconnect from everything so as to intentionally connect with God? And when you do break away for spiritual renewal, maybe even for a few days off, are you disciplined enough to disconnect from technology? By the way, the retreat center DID decide to connect with the outside world via internet technology. How tempted are you in always wanting to remain connected via internet technology?

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I thank You for loving me. I give You thanks for the blessing that the use of technology can be in our lives. I also know however, that using technology can be a hinderance in my relationship with You. Forgive me Lord, when I am more interested in connecting with the pleasures of this world rather than disconnecting from all things so I may more fully connect with You. God teach me Your ways, teach me how to unplug when I need to. Help me to be more disciplined about taking my sabbath rest where I can truly let go of all the distractions of this world, so that I may be more fully attentive to Your mercy and grace. I humbly pray in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. - AMEN

RESOURCE & APPLICATION:

When on retreat, don’t take your laptop or ipad. Don’t check your emails.

When at home, turn off your phone. Turn off the TV.

Open a window and let in some fresh air and sunlight.