My Somewhat Undistracted Make-Up and Media Fast

For three days I tried to abstain from make-up and the media at camp. I stayed true to the make-up part of the fast (that was easy for me) but I must admit that I got my hands on a laptop for a few minutes and used my cell phone briefly whenever I could sneak away.

I find that I am so easily distracted when I am trying to stay focused. Maybe I have contracted a complex condition such as PSP, MP3, DVD, CD, DVR, .COM or ADHD. I blame it on the fact that technology is addicting and because it makes me feel productive, deft and connected. However, I have never been a big believer in playing the blame game.

Insert Note: I am not addicted to FARMTOWN (the ever popular Facebook game)! My daughter plays under my profile. Special thanks to my sister for teaching my children how to harvest potatoes. Avery and Aubree now try to get hired so they can in turn buy seeds, animals, trees, paths and ponds for their farms. I worry about you FARMTOWN people! I really do.

OK, no more tangents, so as I’m trying to focus on the second through fourth grade campers by giving them my undivided attention I find myself drifting away thinking of all the other tasks I could be completing.

This same concept holds true for me while I sit in church on Sunday morning. I must close my eyes much of the time in order to worship undistracted. This is to keep from seeing things such as my son dropping his freshly wrapped mint into the ladies purse in front of us and then attempting to retrieve the mint while trying not to let her see him dig through her purse.

I was grateful for the times of reprieve when I could fully appreciate camp. I enjoyed slip and sliding, canoeing, not having to cook, swimming in the lake, singing around the campfire and teaching my nine, little, girl campers what God created in six days.

Camp was invigorating. I was able to take a break from the things that can oppress our lives and keep us from enjoying unadulterated pleasures and the great outdoors.

This summer cut the cord. Try detaching yourself from your media umbilical cord. You might find it brings new life.

Word of the Week: Each week I add a word that I have come across in my reading for which I did not know the definition. After looking it up I try to use it in my future columns. Last week’s word was A-Double Snakes, my dictionary reads: a horselike animal having long ears and a short mane or a stupid or silly person.”