Ducks
Day 5 of no Internet. Surely I am in a groove now. The week is coming to a close. Have I enjoyed my Internet free time so much that I’ll never come back? Have I realized that I need the internet so I *can* do things with the kids and enjoy it. Hopefully I’ve come to the realization that work is fun. Work is good. It’s not about reward. Life is not about taking a break.
I just love those ducks. They seem to get bigger by the day and I have spent numerous hours watching them waddle about snapping bugs out of the air and filtering water from mud puddles through their beaks. It is more entertaining than watching the clothes blow. I know, hard to believe.
Not so deep thoughts.
It cracks me up when I read people on message boards posting about what they would do if they only had the time. Then you can look at their post count and quickly see where their time goes. I understand that it is hard to keep track of time on the computer. It disappears so quickly. It’s like an Internet time warp. Where did my life go? I know where it went. It got wasted while I was avoiding activities with meaning and purpose in favor of something entertaining.
People want to go online to see the show. Don’t you look forward to the next exciting chapter of message board drama? Don’t you wonder what that hot head woman will say next. You want to roll your eyes at her antics and PM your friends about her craziness. And really it is not the fault of the message board or the Internet. It’s all about your desire (and mine) to "reward" ourselves for getting the dishes done. Or for cleaning the house. Or for finishing the laundry. We are a society of takers. I give a little and I expect something in return.
Or maybe YOU are the chaos creator. It’s more fun to get a rise out of people and be argumentative than to mind your business, tend to your own house and do something meaningful and long lasting. You tell yourself you are truly being helpful by setting these people on these message boards on the right path but really it is just an excuse for not reaching the people closest to you. Who are your neighbors? Might they benefit from Christ’s love flowing out of you.
We all have the same number of hours in a day. The only reason people don’t "have the time" to learn, do , serve is because they chosen to devote their time elsewhere. How come some people seem to get so much more done than we do? It’s because they choose to. They are less entertainment focused and more goal oriented. They see something to do and they do it.
We all can be more like that. And that is my goal this week. See and do. I think that the more you see and do the less like a chore it will seem. When we put off doing the inevitable, all the while running lies like "I don’t like ____." and "I’ll deserve ____ when I am done." through our heads, we set ourselves up for failure in the big scheme of things. Where do our kids learn to have a horrible attitude about work? You can argue that we are born with a lazy sin nature but based on what I have seen and read about other cultures I’d believe that this problem is easily overcome or really doesn’t exist except in places where it is fed and nurtured and encouraged to grow.
Like here in my house. With my kids. And me.
Related posts:
This was a great series of posts. Very thought provoking. I’ve been praying for you all week that God would bless your computer free time.
By the way, I believe the internet is a great tool and is extremely helpful and useful. The thing for me is not getting sucked into message boards and networking sites for more than a few minutes here and there. They are not bad in and of themselves, but if I cannot exercise self discipline (which I am working on) than I need to stay off of them. You’ve convicted me to be better about that this week. I will be gone for several days without my computer, so I’m going to see how long I can go without it when I get back home.
This is why I almost never go to the WS any more (in addition to not turning the computer on till after lunch…I think I posted that a few days ago under my Charity Grace nom de plume). I occasionally visit if I need a quick answer and I know those people are the ones who can deliver the info, but overall I found that I was just going there for entertainment…Fun to watch the drama. Not saying message boards are universally bad, but for me it had become a substitute for real life, and as such, I had to let it go. I don’t miss it at all and I find that there is no temptation to go back once I truly made the mental/emotional break.
Your posts this week have been thought-provoking. I didn’t realize how much I have changed my internet habits (for the better) till you brought some of these things to my attention.
I was raised to work hard without expecting reward. That said, I think reward has its place, but it should not always be expected.
thanks for these posts – you have said well what has been tumbling around in my brain trying to get out :-)
Another great post. And with summer knocking on our doors and free time set to abound, it is so timely. Thanks for reminding us that we have a choice in what we accomplish and what we do not.
The ducks are growing!
Great posts!
I just love those pictures of Jodi playing with the ducks. It is so worth coming to this blog just for that little update. Thank you Jodi. (And also you Katie).