in Touch with technology

More often than not, I find that technology satisfies insatiable urges of mine to dispense with time in the ephemeral short term.  As opposed to going on a hike, a jog, or even a walk I will decide to research something more or less useless on the internet.  I get minimal satisfaction out of doing so the majority of the time whereas I would greatly enjoy time spent active in the outdoors.  In nature I find that I can stop evaluating life to the letter and soak in the theme of it instead.  The two places where I feel God come most alive to me are in the company of loving companions and in the presence of natural beauty.  These revelations have little to do with anything to be found in a bibliography or scholarly journal, yet they resound so clearly that I find no need to trace their veracity.  Even pulled back from the time commitment or weather conditions that could also weigh in on my decision to pursue something fulfilling versus something that seems gratifying, I often fail to spend time in contemplative solitude trying to frame my life's events within the context of my relationship with the Lord.  Not only do I feel the occasional burden of guilt for not doing what I know I ought to do, I feel the abscence and disconnectedness associated with the "why" behind what critics would cite as a pointless chore.   My life is enriched dramatically as I raise the eyes of my heart upward to focus on pure things and reflect upon those aspects of my life that are found lacking from its design.  I honestly don't know what it is about checking out the latest deal on SteepandCheap or reading an inane topic on a sports message board that tricks me into thinking that my time is better spent engaged in that frivolty.  However, with the world of information at my fingertips, I had previously used websites to look up verses and historical context but had yet to devote any significant portion of browsing time to God.  This fall, I purchased a device that has revolutionized the way that I organize my obligations, lists, music, and potentially (and actually) time wasting, the iPod touch. 

 Recently after months of condensed organization, creative writing mishaps, and mindless entertainment, I have found an application that serves to enrich my life.  I find myself glued to the stupid thing as it runs my life, but someone thankfully created an app that provides full text bible translations available at my fingertips and has a program that has divided the entire Bible onto a yearly reading schedule.  So far there have been 3 chapters a day, from the OT, NT, and psalms.  I now am able to check myself and have reading readily accesible wherever I am and it is so nice.  I can't really say that I've devoted as much time to the passages as I would have liked in all instances but I am definitely once again moving in the right direction.  So users of the iPhone and iTouch or even a Blackberry, let me encourage you to download YouVersion .

Happy trails,

Andy