Unplugging

I unplug to....

 

Do you ever wish you could unplug?

To take a vacation from your smart phone, from Facebook, from email?

Or perhaps would you like someone you love to unplug?

            To look you in the eye when you are talking, to share a meal without distraction, to take a walk together?

For 25 hours, tomorrow, March 1 through March 2, join the National Day of Unplugging.

Here's an opportunity to think about what might do if you turned off the electronics.

What would you see and hear? Who might you connect to face to face?

In this week's Torah portion, we read of Moses' encounter with God panim el panim, face to face. Martin Buber taught that when we engage deeply with another human being, we experience an "I-Thou" moment, a godly connection that transcends our utilitarian approach to relationships. Instead of approaching someone with a request, or a demand, or as the object of our emotions (desire, envy, ridicule, pride), enter into relationship.

The National Day of Unplugging coincides with Shabbat. Think of this as an experiment, rather than a life-commitment. Try to start at sunset on Friday and continue until sunset. If you need more ideas, check out "The Sabbath Manifesto"

 

At HBT, our Friday night service this week will support the idea of unplugging, as we take a trip to 17^th century Italy with the choral music of Jewish composer Salomone Rossi. Rossi's music bridged the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and the service he wrote is based on the unique Italian rite of Shabbat liturgy. And the nine talented musicians who will perform the service will also be unplugged. (no microphones!)

And if you like unplugging, you also have our congregational retreat to look forward to in May. More about unplugging another time. Right now, I'm turning off my computer. Feel free to come and talk-face to face!