This week’s post is a practical one. Yes, it has biblical application as its basis but it is one of those truths that we just need to be reminded about from time to time.

Many times, we are on the go. We keep going on and on and on without stopping to rest. Life is so much different than it was just ten years ago. The age of technology has changed things. Today we have Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Groupon, web browsing, websites, mobile phones, text messages (yes I know we receive texts through the phone), social media sites and the list goes on. Even on holidays, the phone and text messages don’t stop. You get the point. All of this technology does have a way of creeping up on us. It is estimated that an average person spends 55 minutes on Facebook every day, not to talk of the other ‘things’ I have mentioned. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to spend 55 minutes of Facebook, it depends on what you are doing. Spending a lot of time and making a lot of money is different from just whiling away the time.

Now people have access to you whenever they can. When people can’t get hold of you, they send you a text and they expect an instant response. A company I work for has just introduced yet another communication technology tool. Difference from email – basically, it’s telling you someone requires your attention and they want it now. Instant messaging! At least, with email, you had the pleasure of opening the mail when you want to.

I could go on and on but you get the message and no doubt you have your own stories too. What perhaps we don’t realise is that (unless you discipline yourself otherwise), it takes out a lot of stress on the body. It is easy to get caught up in all the noise we have in life now, especially with all this technology. Have some quiet time alone to restore your energy. Those little moments during the day seem to be taken up. At one stage, I realised that I had let technology take the place of God. We are to use technology wisely and not let technology use us.

What does one do in the midst of all this? The answer is simple rest and make sure that our days are not overcrowded. Sometimes, it’s important to get away from it all for a period of time. Remember you are human and your body needs to rest. We need rest to give our bodies time to repair or to recuperate. God designed our bodies with a rhythm of rest. Make sure you are getting enough.

I believe we need personal strategies especially around the use of all this new technology e.g. unless you are a very close friend or a very close family., I do not respond to emails and texts after a certain time (unless I choose to). Unnecessary time on social media sites have also been cut off. I encourage you to also make adjustments - if you feel you need to.

Of course, I cannot finish without adding a scriptural reference. Nobody couldn’t have such a heavy demand and wok schedule like Jesus. People wanted His attention all the time. It seemed Jesus had so much to do and very little time to get it done. His work schedule was quite heavy. Yet even with the weight of so much expectation and the need to meet the constant needs of people, He recognised the importance of rest. We read in Mark 6:31that  He encouraged His disciples to get away from people and try and get some rest. A word they say is enough for the wise

Until I appear again in your inbox, stay rested

Ola

Last update : Thursday 06/23/11

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