Without internet -- would you survive

[writegirl1949]

Well, I'm finally back to normal ... :eek:, if that's possible. Many of you know I worked a hectic schedule this summer and I'm glad that's over with. But, the intensity of my life wasn't over. I almost immediately traveled back East to visit a long-time friend. I was looking forward to a less frantic schedule and time to catch up on-line (basically emails and here at CW). To my surprise, (and for a variety of reasons) I did not have internet access.:eek::eek:

Rather than look at it as a loss, I believe God arranged it so I might have more time with Him. I certainly needed it. But the miraculous thing (and I'm speaking to those of us who feel as if we are connected via a cyberspace umbilical cord) was that I wasn't freaking out about it.

So, for 10 days God had much of my undivided attention as I had lots of time to myself. And it got me to thinking. Would we improve our spiritual relationship (or any others, for that matter) if we went without internet for a day? :rolleyes: Now, maybe some of you already do this. But, I thought it was an interesting idea.

As writers, many of us may do much of our work on-line -- research, submissions, queries, etc. My new part time position requires a lot of email exchanges as most of what I do is done at home. Still, with the internet and cell phones, many of us are always connected. :cool:

I was just wondering if anyone here at CW has had the pleasure of being "disconnected."

Blessings, Francine

[Tommie Lyn]

I had the "pleasure" of being disconnected for extended periods of time during hurricanes Ivan and Dennis -- we were without power for about 2 weeks after Ivan and about a week after Dennis. (Our area still hasn't totally recovered from the effects of those storms, but we're getting better every day.) Of course, I didn't have much time to worry about the 'net -- my time was consumed with trying to clean up from the storm damage and set things right again.

Interestingly, due to damage to cell towers most cell phones didn't work and a large portion of the populace didn't have regular phone service either -- but we did (had no water or power, but our phone worked, lol), so we became "phone central" for some folks.

[psychoceramic]

When we went on vacation for two solid weeks we had no internet access except for one day and I Loved It.!!!!!!!!!!!

I sometimes think I was born in the wrong time as I could easily live with out the modern items of the day. I might get more done if it wasn't for the internet, but then i would not have so many great wonderful prayer partners and friends if it wasn't for the net also.

In Jesus,
psycho

[David Meigs]

Good to see you again, Francine. :)

I used to think Mr. Gore invented the internet to achieve mind control over the masses, but now I now it was to keep writers from being productive. :mad:

[Phy]

We've taken part in an annual men's retreat in the northwoods of Wisconsin for nearly 20 years. I love getting away from the family, internet, and work, and I love going back four days later.

[skipsapanda]

My husband and I are taking a vacation with friends to lovely Destin, FL here in a few weeks and we plan to leave the computer at home and the phone off. I'm looking forward to it...and yet I'm a little ancy. We'll see how I handle it. :)

[lynnmosher]

Curmudgeon, you are a hoot!

I've been trying, with a little success (VERY little, but success none the less), to keep the Sabbath the Sabbath and rest as God commands. I'm trying harder each week. It does feel weird, like there's something missing. I also feel like I'm wasting my time, that I should be doing something else. But I'm working on it...slowly but surely...and I guess that counts! :rolleyes:

[writegirl1949]

Hey Curm ... it's good to be back, even better to be noticed (as to not being here, lol).

Lynn, I know what you mean. It is hard to "be still."

For all your workaholics (like myself), maybe taking smaller chunks of time would work. You know, rather than go cold turkey, wean ourselves.

One thing I have given up is chatting on line. While I was in Germany, my daughter and I im'd each other and it was a real blessing. But, getting into chats just seems to suck the life out of me, not to mention the imagination it takes to come up with intelligent quips. At least here, if my brain stalls, I can just wait for inspiration.

Francine

PS It is good to see so many who recognize the value of being disconnected.

[tlm]

We went without the Internet for 4 days on vacation and I didn't miss it nearly as much as I thought. I did keep my cell phone though--hey we were in the hills.

I sat on the beach at the lake and bragged about it to my mom. That's what cell phones are for.

[righter1]

I think it must be generational... We went on vacation for 5 days in July and I took my laptop (to work on the book--and had I not, I wouldn't be done now!) and had my cell phone plastered to my hip the whole time. In fact, my husband, his brother, and his parents and I were on a hike outside of Colorado Springs the first day we were there and I had my cell phone on me. We weren't too far off highway 24 (probably within a half mile or less) and I got a call from one of the ladies in my local writers group to remind me of the meeting that I'd be missing two days later! We had a good laugh about it... She was back home with no power and I was at about 9000 feet above sea level on the side of a mountain!

Seriously, I told my grandparents before I left that I was going to put pictures online as I took them, which I did, and my grandmother made some comment about us young kids that have to have our gadgets... She had me pegged at least!

[writegirl1949]

I must confess ... I DID have my laptop with me. My quiet time with God is done mostly in my journaling and I was able to do that.

The really great thing was I was able to begin plotting the next book -- something that's been difficult to do because of a hectic summer.

And, alas, another confession. I had my cell phone which did keep me connected with family and friends while I was away.

True confessions of a "connected" writer.

Blessings, Francine

[FireFeet]

Between school, work, and personal stuff I spend about 50 hours a week on the computer. :eek:

But I TRY to stay away on Sundays in order to dedicate that time to God and friends...and rest.

This weekend I'm running away to the woods, and hoped to be able to completely disconnect. But I have an article due to my editor by Saturday evening, and the only time the article's subject is available for interview is Saturday afternoon. So, unfortunately, I'm going to have to come out of the woods for a few hours to work on that.

It is amazing, isn't it, how the computer has taken such a place of centrality in our lives?