Control Relinquished

I think it's safe to say we all struggle to "just be" in our always-connected culture. It seems to be a daily wrestling match in my mind--is this a memory I should capture by taking a picture or should I just soak it into my memory? My problem is that my memories are often triggered by photos and I want to "snap away" with my camera so my kids can remember! It's also a reality that phones are no longer "just phones". They are to-do lists, grocery lists, cameras, bank account ledgers, e-mails, Bibles, online stores, radio stations, podcasts, calculators, flashlights, weatherman...not to mention a source of entertainment! No wonder it's so hard to put our phones down and disconnect! I had an observation at the park this evening with my kids. There was a concert going on across the street and I was amused by some of the older people dancing the night away. But then, I turned around and saw this young boy absorbed in his phone rather th

I remember learning the age-old tactics of nutrition in school. The food pyramids and humorous graphics indicating "You are what you eat" to somehow encourage and motivate us to eat more fruits, veggies, and protein. Earlier this week, I did a science experiment with my kids. We took my white hydrangeas and put them in a vase of colored water of their choice.  The effects were quite mesmerizing! After a few days of ingesting the colored water, each of the flowers became a different tint of color. I included a fresh white flower in this picture, so the tint of the blue, green, and orange is more noticeable.  I was subtly reminded of the spiritual application that can be applied to our lives. What are we ingesting into our lives? Deadly toxins from this sinful world or pure, Living Water?   The Bible is clear that "out of the overflow of our heart, the mouth speaks". So, the TV shows, books, music, and websites that we expose ourselves to a