No Computer Sundays

As winter settled over the Chicago area this January, I noticed that once we came home from church on Sundays, my husband and I were sitting in front of our computers responding to unanswered e-mails or finishing the details of various projects. Our weekdays are filled with 8+ hour days on the computer, and our weekends were quickly filling up too.

Over a period of two weeks I prayed about this. Something was churning in the middle of my stomach, and I couldn’t quite get a grasp on what was bothering me. Then, as I was reading through Exodus one morning, it hit me as I came across chapter 20:8-10.

Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
You have six days each week for your ordinary work,
but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest
dedicated to the LORD your God.

Technology is a wonderful thing, but it draws us further and further away from interaction with family members and quietness with God. We isolate ourselves by sitting in front of a screen and fill our days and weeks with more work than we can possibly handle. Our world becomes so filled with noise, distractions and things to do; we fail to take time for rest.

I brought this up to my husband and the look on his face was priceless. His eyes came close to popping out of his head as they enlarged with the sensation of panic. He gulped, and then said, “No computer on Sundays?” I replied with, “Don’t you feel we need to give it a try?”

The first few Sundays showed definitive signs of withdrawal as we aimlessly tried to fill up the hours after church. After several weeks, we discovered we were having deeper conversations, finding new places and things to explore, had time to read, and time to cuddle on the couch and watched some great movies. There was time to simply enjoy each other’s company. Some afternoons, we enjoyed wonderful naps. We tried playing board games or doing puzzles, which hasn’t worked for us, but it may be worth trying for your family. We found we spent more time with extended family too. Fixing a big meal for all of us is work — remember, it’s a day of rest. Pizza or sandwiches are a great alternative.

Remembering the Sabbath has been a good thing.

Maybe it’s something to consider?