A Peaceful Plodding

Planting and pruning into a life without a smartphone

Week one into Lent, my initial thought was, “Yes, I am indeed a weak one.” I found myself habitually reaching for my phone, but I tried to comfort myself in that I at least noticed my thoughtless dopamine chasing. Now, slowly, I am making the transition to a greater simplicity as I put other things to do in place of potential lost hours of distraction and scrolling. Planting has been one place I’ve put my efforts, and pruning another.

Jeremiah (Jer 29:5-7) came to mind at the onset, with his exhortation to plant gardens while living in Babylon, and what is more Babylonian than our current world system with its celebration of excess, materialism, idolatry, and blasphemy? And what brings that all to my heart and mind faster than my pocket-sized smartphone, in a color I like and with all of the apps and settings that appeal to me?

Plant, I shall do then, I think. It will keep my fingers (and hopefully my heart) out of trouble.

Planting

I think of planting not only into the ground outside, but with my feet into whatever permanence I might be blessed to have for a season. I recognize that even though it will all fall to ashes someday when the Lord returns, I’m still called to be a witness to His mercy and grace by at least attempting to leave a legacy of fruitfulness and of creating something beautiful wherever I currently am.

I notice that spring nettles have sprung up outside, and that is the sign to me that I may transfer my greens out from the dining room grow lights, and transplant them into the kitchen garden outside. My goal this year is to have greens in abundance, to include unusual varieties that my grandmothers may have had access to had they been foraging in my area. Dandelion, for sure, but sorrel and wild arugula and many herbs also. I see as I am working the soil that in another bed, the violets I planted last year have made it through winter, and I am rewarded by their sweet stature and scent.

I plant, also, a shelter for the animals I desire to have. Currently I am making room for a horse or two (a small, yet persistent girlhood dream) to share pasture with a small group of dairy goats. Oh, how I miss my sweet goats. I think of my grandmother, again, not only picking herbs and gathering eggs, but also milking her goats for the hot chocolate she would then make for myself and my brother. At the Big House, I would sit in a chair in the middle of the pasture, and most of “my girls” would visit me and nuzzle, or nibble at my apron. All but the matriarch; she only paid me mind when she was kidding (that is, birthing babies) and would make quite the rucous until I showed up to console her!

I plant ideas, too, like the larger pasture at the edge of our property, hilly and with outer fencing that is down in places. The previous owner kept sheep, and I think of doing the same, Shetlands specifically as I so love their personalities and color variations. But, also, I consider an area to put an arena to exercise my hopefully-future-horse. Many people, somber and sad as I imagine them to be, have tried to discourage me due to the cost of keeping an “unnecessary” animal. I say nothing is necessary in a given day except a roof, a meal, and a garment.

Perhaps I am also planting permanence, or at least permanence “for now”. I think of creating a homestead that is not solely for the children and grandchildren (for who is to say if they will truly visit?), but for myself and my husband to enjoy and to be supportive to the goals and desires we have for the time we have left in this world. One area I’ve begun work on in the house itself is the kitchen, so I might more comfortably make meals in a room that is open, bright, and has appliances (and a sink) in good working order.

Pruning

Pruning is just as important as planting, as without it, the weeds of the world and my flesh would quickly choke out any good and decent effort.

For one, I removed my smartphone from the bedroom. I now keep it solely in my office space, and although my morning routines are still the same, I find a definitely lift in my spirit by having it completely out of the room. It makes for a quieter dressing time, as I used to listen to the news or to music, but my new habit now is to open the window instead and to listen for morning birdsong.

I only check messages now when my children are sleeping or otherwise occupied. If my kids rarely see me on my phone, I am more than ok with that! Happily, my screen time is down more than 75%. I am looking forward to getting my Light Phone when it arrives in May. My hope is, by then, turning my Smartphone completely off and sticking it in a drawer for the rare times I will have to log in will be very, very easy.

I removed all of my workout gear from the bedroom as well, and set up a small space in the basement. I put my iPad there, too, as I like to watch videos while strength training or using the treadmill. I no longer reach for that device when I’m in the bedroom folding clothes or washing dishes. I now consider it part of my workout space, and if I want to go watch something, I better be sweating.

I really do like my new little camera and find it enjoyable to have only that one thing in my hand when I take my walks. I’m more purposeful about the pictures I take. I’m still learning how to operate it, but thus far it has been a pleasant experience.

I’m also enjoying wearing a wrist watch. When I look at the time, I don’t have to also make an unconscious decision on how I’ll respond to the invitation to log in and check messages or scroll. There’s absolutely no decision whatsoever to make (except perhaps is it time to start making lunch?); it’s just the time that it is. Blessedly boring.

Pruned also is the Kindle, which for me was quite easy as I have never enjoyed reading books on a screen, even if the book in question WAS only 99 cents. Give me the paperback and a pencil to respond with every single time. I chose a stack of books for my spring reading, but given the height of it, it will most likely be “hope I finish them by autumn” reading. I purposefully chose more fiction reads, as my reading diet isn’t very balanced in that way. Currently, I am finishing two books: Fierce Convictions and Myth and Memory, both nonfiction. The devotional I am reading before closing my eyes at bedtime is perfect for addicts of all kinds: Freedom in the Fight.

Growing

Thus far my efforts have been about recognizing where I am (not a fun diagnosis) and putting some thoughts and money into alternatives. It’s definitely been quieter, as I’m also not listening to any podcasts while I am shoveling compost or planting flags for future fence posts. I don’t even remember the last time I listened to a podcast on my phone (ignores the temptation to log in and look…). Come to think of it, I can’t even remember how many I’m subscribed to, or even the names of more than one or two! If I want music during the day, I put on a vinyl record or turn on the radio. I do kind of miss the playlists I put together, but I asked myself, “If I somehow lost all of my playlists with no recourse, how devastated would I be?”

Meh. Perhaps slightly annoyed for a time (the money I spent!) but I’d get over it. I’d miss my vinyl records more.

The end of week two finds me a bit calmer. I do not understand why or how using a single-use tool like a record player or a calculator or a book or a notebook or a watch is far, far more calming, especially when I consider the lack of convenience and how those single things do take up more physical space. But somehow, they DO help me to keep a much, much slower pace and to be less rattled, and that is exactly what I need right now.

My Lenten experiment is challenging but causing me to think more deeply about many things. I hope it will help me to learn to plod along purposefully, peacefully, and with full presence of heart, mind, and spirit for the rest of my very short life.

P.S. I did write this draft into my notebook with a wooden pencil first.

P.P.S. It’s opened up the floodgates and I already have two more started. I have no idea how and why that works.

P.P.P.S. Some links about are affiliate links, but I bet you knew that already. And yes, finding and using alternatives to Amazon is on my “someday” list.