Sunday, September 21, 2014

Another August "Unplugged"

This year I continued my tradition of 'unplugging' for the month of August.  This year I went about two months with no Facebook and just a little bit of email access.  It never fails that each year as I take the time away from those things, I notice other things.  Here are a few of my realizations from this year's hiatus from Facebook.

1.  Reintroducing listening to music on vinyl has become one of my favorite things to do in a very long time.

2.  Reconnecting with long-distance loved ones is never a bad idea.  In fact it's always a good idea.

3.  Disappointments will occur in life.  It's not the 'bad' that happens that's the most important thing.  It's how well you handle it that is the most important.

4.  As I read the Bible, God is usually building something good, and if something happens that ends up tearing down that good thing, for whatever reason, it's not surprising at some point that he starts rebuilding it again.

5.  My wife makes the best apple pies, strawberry rhubarb pies and apple crisps.

6.   My son is a great little hockey player.

7.  My daughter has a fantastic singing voice.

8.  Gene Simmons' attempt at a bass solo (as seen on YouTube) can't be unheard and doesn't qualify remotely as music.

(on a more serious note...)

9.  The world's problems that we see in the Middle East aren't political problems and they won't be solved with political solutions.  My Christian brothers and sisters being beheaded along with others cannot be ended at a UN summit.

10.  The nation's problems that we see on the news aren't political problems and they won't be solved with political solutions.  No government can sign a bill into law and put an end to injustice, poverty and hatred.

11.  It's been refreshing to not read people's words of name calling and vicious criticisms of their least favorite politician online. 

12.  It's been discouraging to get back online and read people's words of name calling and vicious criticisms of their least favorite politician.  Obviously the vicious name calling hasn't helped anything but the felt need to do so persists.

13.  My desires and inclinations will not always yield the positive result I'm looking for.  When they do, great.  Take it as an open door.  When they don't, great.  Take it as a closed door.

14.  All things in this life, whether good or bad, are temporary.  

So there you have it.  Some serious and some not so serious observations.  I encourage you to take the time to unplug and separate yourself from the distractions of life and breathe in some uncluttered silence.