You want me to spend 144 hours without my phone?

Our church (Harris Creek Baptist Church) recently hosted Pine Cove City, where over 200 kids learned about Jesus in a ridiculously fun camp vibe. Pine Cove City brings the teaching, worship, and fun activities (i.e., water slides, laser tag). They also bring with them 35-40 college-age counselors who lead the kids all week long.

One of my favorite parts of the way they run camp is that the counselors don’t have their phones on them. In fact, they turn them in to their site director on Sunday at noon and don’t get them back until the following Saturday at noon.

If I’m honest, this always stresses me out for them.

• You can’t check text messages or emails? They’ll all be waiting for you when you get your phone back.

• Instagram? Not for 144 hours.

• But what about the NBA Finals or College World Series? The scores will be there when you get your phone back.

I don’t know how I’d do as a counselor. I’m as addicted to my device as anyone else out there.

What Do I Do Without My Phone?

Here’s what I observed and it honestly made me jealous. In fact, I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the past week.

Instead of being nose-down on their phones, the counselors did something very strange: they actually talked to each other.

• They played games.

• They sang Taylor Swift songs and danced around together.

• They prayed with and for each other.

• They asked each other for counsel and advice.

• They opened up their bibles and encouraged each other with scripture.

• They even napped when they had a few minutes of downtime.

I walked by our large gathering room and saw 20 of them playing some game together. They stood in a circle and laughed, screamed, and pointed at each other. Throughout the room, smaller groups of 2-3 counselors sat down together and talked. They looked at each other and not at their phones.

I always want to learn from others. Once again I was reminded that we can learn from anyone, regardless of their age, marital status, or socioeconomic status. I learned from single, not-even-old-enough-to-drink college students how to have fun without their phones.

I know there’s nothing inherently wrong with a cellphone. In fact, there are so many incredible things we do with our phones: communicate with those far away, encourage each other with texts, capture great memories with pictures and videos, check sports scores, and so much more. The problem is that I, and many others, become enslaved to our phones.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.”

Yes, we have the right and freedom to have phones. But are they always beneficial? Are we mastered by them? I know I often am mastered by my iPhone. I always have to have it on me or nearby. I check it when I’m bored or stuck at a light. I look at it while I look at my television. I check when I go to the bathroom.

So what do we do about it?

I’m not suggesting you turn in your phone for 144 hours to your spouse, boss, or neighbor. I am, however, suggesting you look for ways to not be mastered by your phone.

What can this look like in day to day life?

• Last night I went with my wife, two of my sons, and a friend of mine to play pickleball. I left my phone at home for an hour. It was great to play, sweat, laugh, and make memories and not think about texts or emails for one hour.

• Keep your phone out of the bedroom. Charge it in another room and let your bedroom be a phone-free zone. Rather, focus on your spouse or read a book.

• Read a book or do a puzzle.

• When I go for a walk every morning, I have my phone on me, but I set a timer for 10 minutes. My rule is that for 10 minutes I can’t look at my phone. Baby steps.

• Ask for some accountability from your spouse, children, or friends. Admit if can be a struggle and let them know how they can help you.

I don’t know what it is for you. But, I will tell you it stirred my affections for Jesus to see so many young men and women enjoying each other without their phones. It challenged me to seek to do the same and to encourage others to try it as well. That’s why I’m writing this post!

Again, I’m not telling you to throw it away or shun it completely. And I know many others have written about this and have full books and podcasts on technology. But I’d love for you to think through how to not be mastered by your phone. I know I’ll continue to do the same.

If you text me and I don’t immediately respond, it’s probably because I’m playing pickleball or talking to some friends face-to-face.

Your Turn:

What are some practices you apply so that you’re not mastered by your cellphone?