Hi there, it's Marissa!
You may know me from seeing me on Mom's social media pages, listening to my podcast episode with Mom, in real life, or are just finding us now. However you found this blog post, I want to give you a warm welcome - but not too warm, because this is a story about how our home could have been up in flames.
Life is anything but convenient.
While I was out and about one day, I picked up my phone. Much to my surprise, the home button on my iPhone was extremely hot. It was one of the most scalding surfaces I had ever come in contact with. Thankfully, only the button of my phone reached this temperature, and after I drove home, my dad picked me up to make a trip to the Apple store. It turned out my phone's battery was in poor condition, and I would need a new screen, button, and battery. I took my phone home while I waited for the replacement parts to arrive. The next day, the extremely hot button appeared again. And again. After that, I considered my phone a possible fire hazard, and I ended up turning it off, leaving what I considered a ticking time bomb (the few times I used it) on our kitchen fireplace mantel for several days.
I didn't love the thought of missing important messages, or not posting for our business, Melane & Co. This seemed to be an ordeal that was anything but ideal, but sometimes, such is life.
However, I found that it was refreshing not to have my phone by my side. I missed some messages, but I found I was slightly more productive while I was away from my device that was too hot to handle. My work routines hadn't changed that much, but I felt as though I was more creative and slightly more efficient.
I got a little bit of more work done each day I didn't have my phone. It was a small change, but it made a difference. With each passing day, I completed more tasks than I would have, and in the end, I know my device collecting dust added extra efficiency to my days.
Instead of scrolling on Instagram for a minute, I made the most out of minutes by thinking of the next thing I could get done. I had already done this when I had my phone, but I filled up my schedule without having my social media feeds at my fingertips.
Each day, I finished more than I would have if I'd had my phone.
Was it slightly inconvenient to be without a phone? Oh, yes. However, I accomplished more than I would have, little by little.
Today is the day I received my phone back fully repaired, and this event gave me an interesting perspective on habits.
By being without a phone for several days, I got a little extra work done, and I felt more carefree. I was afraid I would miss some messages for business, and I missed messaging some of my friends, but besides that, this small disadvantage allowed me to move further into my creativity, work, a good book, and an elevated easygoing mindset. By removing myself from this small device for several days, I thought of a heated topic to ponder: what are the seemingly small facets in our life that are holding us back mentally, as well as spiritually?
Maybe it's a fear, a suffocating schedule, and/or it can be as simple as starting your day off without a prayer.
I believe the smallest changes can make the biggest differences.
So, hopefully your phone won't be a ticking time bomb or potential fire hazard, but to deepen your walk with Christ, I suggest two questions to consider.
What barriers do you have?
What do you think the effects on your life might be if you took those barriers away?
Making moves for a more God-honoring life may be uncomfortable, inconvenient, or frightening. It may take a leap of faith, or a small step, but in the end and for eternity, these subtle or sweeping shifts will be oh-so worth it.
Marissa
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