by Joanie Butman
I learned a new word this week: phubbing. Chances are you’ve been a victim (or perpetrator) of phubbing without even knowing there was a term for it. Phubbing is the act of snubbing someone you’re talking with in person in favor of your phone. I tend to complain about my children phubbing me, but I’m just as guilty.
Nowhere is this more obvious than in my spiritual life. When I started doing my morning devotions on my phone, my spiritual wellbeing took a nosedive. Rather than sitting in silence reflecting on what I’ve just read or listening for God’s still small voice, I find myself being pulled away from the moment into an internet vortex.
After dutifully reciting my gratitude for blessings and logging in my prayer requests, I might allow a nanosecond or two for a response, then I’m onto the next. Communing with the Divine doesn’t work on demand. That’s not to say He couldn’t answer in seconds. It just hasn’t been my experience. It takes generous portions of quiet and stillness for me to hear from God. Even then, it’s often a struggle.
Stillness has long been the only successful prayer strategy for me. Life presents a multitude of stillness opportunities: waiting for a train, plane, doctor, customer service agent, etc. Or my favorite – long, quiet car rides. In the past, prayer would be my default during those times. Now, my first instinct is to reach for my phone, and it’s not to read scripture online. Doing Wordle, Spelling Bee or the crossword isn’t a bad thing, but achieving Queen Bee status is not going to help me become a better person. On the other hand, having Jesus as my default goes a long way to spiritual health and a rich, thriving relationship with God, and consequently, with others.
There’s no doubt about it, I felt closer to Christ prior to the introduction of the smartphone. With that in mind, my goal for 2023 is decreasing my time on devices. Even though it drives my family crazy that I don’t always have my phone on me, it’s easier being in the moment without it. Choosing to give someone your undivided attention is a gift. Choosing to offer it to God is worship.
Choose wisely!
