Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
      • Dear Friend in Christ
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Events
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to WELCA Blog

Turning off and tuning in
by Elizabeth McBride

5.11.2015
|
Post

Bethspa350Recently my husband and I bought a coupon for a two-night stay at a resort and spa. It’s a challenge for us to get away for vacation because of his business schedule and my work, so a short stay was a perfect way to reset our lives.

Our everyday life consists of multiple check-ins via cell phone from my mom who has Type 1 Diabetes and lives alone, calls and emails from clients for my husband’s framing business, my occasional work from home, a bouncy Puggle, Iggy, and a dignified cat, Miss Ellie. To say that we needed to disconnect and recharge was an understatement.

On our trip, we discovered that there is something amazing about having a conversation without interruption from our cell phones and iPads, pets, check-in duties and other responsibilities. We actually finished our thoughts. We shared our hopes for the future.

We began to reconnect as a couple again. We realized that at home, we had become stuck in a device rut. When we got home from a long day at work, we got on our phones. Or once we started talking about the day, it was time for my mom’s check in or a dog walk. It was endless. It was not sabbath keeping, and it was making us anxious and cranky.

Now, following our trip, we are trying to set time aside to relax and recharge. The phones are going on silent, the check-ins will be preemptive, the emails to clients will have to wait, and the dog walking is for our pleasure as well ad Iggy’s.

Do you give yourself and family time away from your cell phones or digital devices and other responsibilities? Has that time away helped you to stay more focused and connected to the people in your life?

Elizabeth McBride, director for intergenerational programs and editor of Café, wrote this blog after returning home from a relaxing vacation, and she hopes by the time it’s published, she is still living out her cellphone sabbath.

Photo: Spa accents by Karl Cossio, used with permission, Creative Commons.

Share
No Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Categories

  • Post (1,257)
  • News (295)
    • Gathering 2021 (9)
    • Triennial Convention 2021 (7)
  • Devotions (76)
  • 2122 (3)
  • Uncategorized (2)
Women of the ELCA
3h
Women of the ELCA
@WomenoftheELCA

As we continue celebrating the lives and stories of bold African Descent women this month, today’s blogger writes about Sojourner Truth and reminds us to continue to the work she began. womenoftheelca.org/blog/post/… #BlackHistoryMonth #mondaymotivation #livingherstory pic.twitter.com/R7LNZ5dsjS

Expand reply reply retweet retweet favorite favorite
Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.