Since it's Lent and all, I decided it was an appropriate time to examine my screen time conscience. In doing so, I evaluated the use of my iPhone and laptop.
To conduct a proper self-assessment, I pulled out our family guidelines, also known as our:
Ten Commandments of Screen Time and Technology Use
- Thou shall not make technology the center of thy life.
- Thou shall not idolize thy smart phone, laptop or lightning-fast wireless connections in the sky above or earth below or wherever it comes from; thou shall not bow down or worship any of these technological conveniences.
- Thou shall not use email, texts or chat as a vain substitute for real human interaction.
- Remember to take a technology Sabbath each week.
- Honor the humans in thy life, rather than the screens.
- Thou shall not kill the peace within thyself by overuse of technology.
- Thou shall not covet e-books over real books.
- Thou shall not steal away time surfing the Internet or watching mindless videos, when more important tasks lie in front of you.
- Thou shall not bear false witness about the amount of screen time in thy family life. Thou shall not relax technology use guidelines when thou art weary.
- Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's technology. Thou shall not covet his/her iPad mini, new smart -phone, nor any other technological wonder that belongs to him/her.
Having spent time reflecting on these commandments, I have determined that I have broken AT LEAST three.
Hear me readers, for I have transgressed. It's been four months since I last examined my technological conscience.
2. I have sinned on many occasions, coveting the coffee houses with the fastest wireless connections.
7. I continue to prefer e-books over the real deal. I know that I actually enjoy turning pages more than clicking pages. Technology Master, help me not to do the thing I am doing. I do not understand; for I am reading ebooks and am not practicing what I preach about the benefits of reading "real books!" In fact, I am participating in the very behavior I hate.
9. I am guilty on occasion of relaxing family technology use guidelines (such as waking up to reading email on my iPhone, in the restroom, of all places!).
For my penance, I shall spend the next week:
- Showing patience with slow wireless connections in coffee houses;
- Reading the two paperback books on my nightstand;
- Forbidding myself from viewing my email in the early morn; rather, awakening to mentally and physically restorative, non-technological activities.
With a contrite heart and mind, I commit to amend my technologically unhealthy life.
Amen.