being connected and what if.

Ok, here's the honest truth. I have a total aversion to my cell phone, I only use my computer because I have to and it's the easiest way I can write (and I can honestly say that I love this blog), I am beginning to hate facebook (haven't been on it in weeks) and I do not really care that so and so had such and such for breakfast or that said so and so is now driving to the gym (thank you twitter)!!! Why is it that we feel such a need to be connected to everyone every moment of every day? Why do we get upset when we can't reach someone the very moment we want them after we called their cell phone, called back, called back and left a message, texted them, facebooked them, texted them again, then resulted to calling them back again demanding to know why they aren't answering any of our attempts to contact them in the last five minutes....are they alive?! What is wrong with this picture?

This truly disturbs me. What in the world did people do not very long ago when there was no such thing as a cell phone and when you called them at home, they didn't answer because they truly weren't home! We are no longer afforded the luxury of "not being home" because we are expected to be accessible whenever the whim comes upon someone that they need us. We pour such energy and emotion into staying connected to each other,(yes, I did say emotion, remember the irate facebook message you were left after someone had tried to reach you by the means I mentioned above, demanding to know where you were?) what would happen if we poured that energy into staying connected to He who is always available and never "not home."

I think it would change our lives. I think it would alter our world in such a way, we would be astounded at what we'd been missing all this time. What if, when I got the the urge to check facebook, I opened my Bible instead and read a few verses? What if, when I wanted to call that certain someone because I had such a hard day, I went to Him in prayer instead? What would happen, if when I could not reach someone after trying and trying, I did not get upset but went to my knees on their behalf?

What if, instead of spending my time on facebook or twitter, I simply prayed? What would change? Nothing? Everything? Everything.

Who would change? Me? Them? Me.

What if I began to see changes from my praying? What if I not only began to see myself change, but what if I began to see changes in those around me? What if it changed the world?

I underestimate prayer. I forget that in order to wield the weapon that it is requires practice, time, diligence, and persistence. Like learning to play an instrument, I must have discipline and it may not be easy at first, but oh the joy of seeing the rewards. Even if I never see the rewards in those I'm praying for, I will be changed.

So, what if?

"One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time." 

                                                                                                                                                                     — John Piper