Power Outage

The power is out.  It is January 21, 2013.  It has been out since 4:00 am.  Three and half hours later and we are still huddled in front of the fire surrounded by candles.  School has been cancelled.  The power is out there also and it is below 20 degrees outside.

I am grateful for the day home.  The only thing I really miss is my coffee.  There is no hum of electricity.  There are no bright lights from the gas station signs down the street, we are in no hurry to turn on television or computers.  It is immensely peaceful.  Of course, any place more than 20 feet from the wood stove is freezing so we are finding things to do by the fire.

This power outage makes me think, like all power outages do, is all our stuff really necessary? Is it really progress?  Let's just take phones, for example.  Before phones there was mail.  If you wanted to speak with someone you sat down, wrote a letter, placed a stamp on it and took it to the post office.  In a few days your message would reach its recipient.  They would write you a letter in return.  About a week from the sending of your letter, you received a response.

The alternative to letter writing was putting on your shoes and coat and going to that person's house. They would stop what they were doing, you would both have some coffee and chat for a while.  When your visit was finished, you would go home.

Both of these means of communication took time and effort.  One had to make a conscious effort to get in touch with a friend.

Today, there is minimal effort.  You can call while you are driving, you can text during a meeting, you can send out one blanket message that all your friends can see at once.

There are benefits to today's communication technology.  I love being able to call my mom or far away friends anytime.  The speed and ease with which I can get in touch with someone is wonderful.  Using the new technology doesn't mean I need to throw out the old.  I shouldn't forget to write letters to friends or to visit friends' homes.  Taking time and effort to show someone you care still holds value. Just because I texted good morning doesn't mean I'm keeping in touch.  Time and effort.  Anything worth anything or anybody worth anything deserves time and effort.

We spend hours every day watching television.  What could we accomplish task-wise or relationship-wise if we turned the television off?  What great things could we add to our lives if we did instead of watched?

The real question is, am I willing to give up these conveniences?  Am I willing to do the hard work of living without distraction?  How much more life would I live?  How much more joy would I have? How much more peace would I find?