Quiet down before God, be prayerful before God. (Psalm 37:7, The Message)
The time of Advent reminds me to wait, wait, wait. Yet my social-media habit encourages me to hurry, hurry, hurry. This December I’ve found these modes–of waiting and of hurrying–are at odds. I am connected to friends and family through Facebook, Twitter, email, and texting, so I am never alone. I am beginning to wonder if this constant social media chatter is drowning out my ability to listen to the “still, small voice” of God, which may require solitude and communion. For example, during Advent, in years past, I would attend a Wednesday night Space for Grace candlelight service. Now I do Advent by scanning devotional emails on my smart phone as I walk to work from the subway. While I am happy to be connected to so many friends and family through social media, I fear my round-the-clock digital connectedness is distracting me from a deeper relationship with the people in my life and with God.
This is adapted from “Constantly distracted,” written by Mary Coudal, that was published on the Women of the ELCA blog on December 16, 2013.
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