I Know I said I’d start writing every day…at least I said I’ll TRY to write every day. The past three days, I really meant to….but my dear Mac just thought it didn’t want to work anymore. So now, I am still hanging on to my seat, hoping that the hard drive’s okay, and that there’s just a loose whatever.

I think this is the appropriate time to confess something that can be considered a grave sin for someone whose life is so intricately connected to computers and the internet:

….Okay…..here it is………..

…..I’m about to say it………..

……..Wait for it……….. wait for it…………………

I HAVE NO BACK-UP FILES!!!

Waaah! There! I blurted it out already!!!

*SHAME, SHAME, SHAME all over my face*

Ayayay! See, I thought I was organized and all….but I never deemed it an urgent thing to back up my files. I always thought that horror story of someone’s files getting wiped out could only happen to everyone else–except me. I guess You could say I tend to live in a bubble where I feel I am exempt from certain “disasters” in this world. Well, though I am still HOPEFUL that it’s not the hard drive, that bubble of mine just got popped.

As it turns out, I am reminded that I do not live in a bubble. As long as I am in this world, I cannot afford to think that life  gives me some form of “special treatment”. I most certainly cannot think that I am not vulnerable to the many things that are going on around me.

I am reminded of the verse, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

This applies not just to my hard drive files, but more importantly to the areas in my life that are prone to some form of compromise– those that are prone to sin and its consequences (this basically implies all areas of my life then!).

For some reason I really just thought that my Mac was a special kind of Mac, which can never be brought down by any kind of virus. I foolishly thought it would last forever and that I’d never need to update or back up anything. I foolishly thought that it was okay to be nonchalant about ensuring that all that I considered important were securely filed and stored, with extra back-up.

Lord, I pray that I will not be so foolish as to think that I can never be brought down by any kind of sin or compromise. I pray that I will not be so foolish as to neglect the importance of taking extra measures to ensure that all that I consider important in my life are kept secure.

Lord, I thank you for reminding me that before having internet, I actually was able to manage pretty well….as I am doing, now.

But Lord, I still pray that it’s not the hard drive….lots of hard work and memories stored in there. Please? Please? Please???

I promise I will learn to back up my files na! Pramis talaga!  O:)

PS: I’m just borrowing Dennis’ laptop.

PPS: If I may ask….Can you please pray for me and my Mac’s hard drive, too??  Thank you!!

Before anything else, I’d like to point out that we still don’t have internet in our new home, and that’s the main reason why it’s been taking me forever to post updates. Almost everyday, I think of something and I go “Oh, I have to write this!”, only to be reminded that I won’t be able to. For some reason, my brain goes on protest whenever I try writing using Microsoft Word. I think it still equates it with the many sleepless nights of writing papers way back in college that now it refuses to function even for “leisure” sake.

The other night Dennis and I decided that it might be best not to have internet at home. The office is just a few minutes away so it is easy to go online if ever the need arises. We thought about the many things we could do instead of spending time online— we could read more, communicate better, play with the kids without any tempting distractions….in short, we will be more fruitful with our time. We were both convinced and we were in agreement in this particular decision.

And then we woke up the next day. Dennis told me he realized that we actually need to have internet at home since a big part of our lives is connected to being online. We both love to blog, we get connected and keep in touch with other people through the social networking sites, we have an online bookstore…so yes, it actually is a “necessity” if you look at it from that perspective (Of course you and I both know we would actually survive without it!).

I still want to be more fruitful, though. I still want to be able to read more, to communicate with my family better, to spend more quality time with the kids without any distractions. I want to be up-to-date in today’s world, yet still be old-fashioned with how I spend my time with my family. As the Bible puts it (in a different context, but I think it’s still applicable in this case), “It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes .” (Ecclesiastes 7:18)

I guess it all goes back to reminding myself of my priorities, and being DELIBERATE in making sure I practice what I put on paper.

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”, right?

Let’s put this in practice. I shall list down the things I plan on doing and not doing in order to make the best out of having technology, and not let technology get the best of me.

1. God first.

I am reminded of this question from one of our pastors: “Are you quicker to answer a phone call or a message from Facebook than you are in picking up your Bible and hearing from God?”

2. My husband second.

How guilty I am of often thinking it’s okay for me to stay online since my husband can also go and be online anyway. I will make an extra effort to shut down my computer so as not to shut out my husband.

3. My kids next.

It’s amazing how fast time flies when you’re browsing through the net! You spend an hour only to realize there really wasn’t much that you’ve accomplished; nothing really life-changing that you’ve done. If you have only spent it playing with your kids instead, you would have already planted seeds of character in their hearts that will bear much fruit in the future. So here’s the action plan:

I shall use my laptop only when the kids are asleep.

4. My household after the kids.

Oh, even if they are asleep, I still have to make sure all my household chores for the day are done.

5. Last (and yes, the least)– internet.

Okay, so now I am online. It’s a good break especially for someone who stays home most of the time. I still have to always keep in mind the reason why I go online in the first place. It is to grow as a person– through the knowledge gained from the internet, through the many resources and references available– and to grow in my relationships– by getting connected and keeping in touch, by blogging, by “saving” time on some chores and tasks so I can better allot my time… I AM TO GROW every time I go online. If I am failing to achieve this, time to sign out.

At the risk of sounding redundant, I say it again:

I will make the best out of technology, and will make every effort in not letting technology get the best of me.