By Susan Ciancio
If we are all willing to take a look at our daily lives, we will have to admit that we spend too much time on our phones. It’s a global trend, and in many ways it’s more dangerous than a pandemic, as social media, phone addiction, and the constant scrolling infest our homes and our lives, making people into recluses, giving people the anonymity to say vile things, and altering the way we interact with other human beings.
That’s why Pope Francis’ prayer intention for April struck me as crucial. His prayer is that technology “will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times.”
We know that family is the foundation of society and that to build strong societies, we have to build strong human beings. That starts in the home and with each of us.
Strong people are not built by TikTok, Instagram, or X. They are forged through conversations, through the teaching of our faith, through attention, and over time.
As Pope Francis recently said, “Something’s wrong if we spend more time on our cell phones than with people.”
Cell phones themselves aren’t evil, as they are inanimate objects. It’s what we do with them that matters. It’s how much time we spend on them and how we talk to others. Like everything, when used in moderation, they can be a fun tool to communicate, to learn, and to unwind after a long day. It’s when they begin to hinder in-person friendships and family relationships that we get into trouble.
Aside from our faith, our children should be the most treasured things in our lives. Nurturing them and giving them our time and attention help them feel valued and important.
Throughout April, we challenge you (see below for details!) to be more conscious of your phone usage and to do one thing each day to spend more time with the people in your life.
To start you off, we have five great ideas for things you can do tonight.
1. Institute family game night.
Play cards or some board games. Let each family member choose their favorite.
2. Pray as a family.
Say a rosary or a decade of the rosary. Go around the room and ask for prayer intentions.
3. “Where did I fail this week?”
Okay, I got this from an episode of Blue Bloods, but it’s a great idea! At dinnertime, have everyone in the family identify one way they failed this past week and what they learned from it. The point is to teach your kids that everyone fails; when we learn from our failures, we grow as human beings.
4. Go to Adoration.
Take time to sit with Jesus in prayer. You don’t have to go for a full hour. God wants to see you, even for just a little while.
5. Visit someone who’s lonely.
People of all ages can feel lonely. It doesn’t just have to be an elderly neighbor or someone who’s sick. Look around at the people in your life. Do you know someone who lives alone, a single mom or dad, or (for kids) the new kid at school or one who may not be thought of as popular? Give that person the gift of your time.
In the parable of the talents, the master says to the servant who buried the talent, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
God has given us our family and friends, expecting that we will nurture those relationships and help them grow. When we bury ourselves in our phones and neglect those around us, we are rejecting a precious gift given to us by God and are acting like the wicked servant who buried his talent.
Detoxing from chronic phone usage isn’t easy, but it can be done. That’s why we are issuing this challenge. We hope you will join and let us know the fun things you’re doing with those you love.
To see our daily challenges, follow us on Instagram. Yes we know that sounds oxymoronic, but social media can be used for good!