Rediscovering the Beauty of Pausing

What’s the longest you’ve gone screen-free lately?

Have you ever felt like the day rushes by and you just don’t seem to have time to think or pause? I know I have.

One day, I was standing waiting for the bus to come, and of course, I pulled out my phone to pass the time, scrolling through any updates. To be honest, there wasn’t much to look at, so I looked up and I saw all around me the familiar head-tilted downward, arm-raised, and finger-scrolling posture. That’s when I realized that every spare moment we have in a day, anytime we’re required to wait for something, we pull out our phones.

Embracing Moments of Stillness

All those spare moments that are meant for us to pause, to think, and to reflect, we fill with trivial screen time.

Stop and smell the roses. It’s a well-known saying for a reason. God created us to have those empty moments of time because it’s an opportunity to hear God’s voice, to dwell in His presence, and appreciate the incredible beauty of creation all around us.

Living Intentionally Screen-Free

I now dwell in the pauses and empty moments during the day, instead of staring mindlessly at my phone. I try to regularly have phone-free time when I turn off my data and notifications, and people are only able to reach me if they call me. I go outside for a walk or a swim, or just sit and look around and spend time in God’s creation.

What would it look like for you to have a phone-free hour or day every week? What could change in your life if you spent some time unplugged?

Written by Mackenzie N.

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