Life through a screen
Last week I attended my nephew's orchestra concert. Sitting there watching the performance, I was surrounded by moms, dads, and other family members watching the concert through the screens of their phones as they recorded the concert.
That got me to wondering... how often do we miss being in the moment because we are watching something through a screen. Don't get me wrong, I like to capture things on video, too. But in the last year or so I have tried to do that less frequently. I'm learning it's often more enjoyable to soak in the moment live than miss the richness of the experience trying to record it for later.
There is no rule for when to record, when to photograph, and when to set down the phone and enjoy. This is not some legalistic rant about how awful it is to ever use our phones to record special moments.
Instead, let this simply be a reminder to stop and think before watching every special moment unfold through the screen of your phone. Sometimes the best way to enjoy a moment is to be fully immersed in the experience rather than watching on a screen in two dimensions.
I hear you! I have a difficult time finding that balance. Dropping the girls off at camp yesterday was a great and memorable time. Looking at my pics, I wish I would have snapped one of Lilly with her friends in the dorm. Sometimes it's about taking pics for them, not for me. Sometimes I just want to watch and experience it for all of us.
ReplyDeleteI have always admired your insights and your commitment to everyone around you. You've been an inspiration to my kids, especially when you lead the youth group. Just wanted you to know I'm thinking about you and praying for your well-being.