What I Learned
Published on Feb 2, 2010 - In: Change| Creativity
“The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.” – Alfred North Whitehead
21 Days away from media was hard and I was surprised what I learned. Â I have to be honest, I cheated using Twitter to communicate with my wife when I was traveling. Regardless, I really feel the time was well needed and I came away for the better.
Looking back I noticed that prior to this media switch off I’d become preoccupied with time creating a new kind of personal suffering; the tyranny of efficiency. My days were drawn into units of times for Blogging, Twittering, and communicating via many social forms and thinking primarily horizontally and not thinking vertically. In many ways managing all of these units of times corrupted my power of observation.  Cutting all that out, the twittersphere still rotated.  My blog still got traffic; even-though I wasn’t posting.  And when It came to connecting with people, we kicked it old school via phone or carrier pigeon. Life seemed to go on, but in a more simplistic state.
Secondly, I’d hope to get back in touch with my creative side. While I use technology to express myself creatively, I relied on it to much; instead of a more organic process like with pen and moleskin. Â I began to read way more over the 3 weeks. Â Doodle and sketch. Â I even had the urge to paint. Â I found my creative side exploding once again, when prior I felt as if I was in dry non-creative state. Â I returned to a motto that I had when I was managing my awesome team at FOX, it was: if you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.
At the end of the day, I believe technological diet shapes the soul as much as food shapes the body. And we need to put ourselves in circumstances and pursue dreams that necessitate the supernatural intervention of the Holy Spirit. Â I did that. Â I’m doing that now.
Have you removed something from your routine and found in beneficial?
I’m Back
Published on Feb 1, 2010 - In: Change| Creativity
After 21 days of total switch off from all media; I’m back. Â I’ve got lots to share and will let you in on everything over the next few days. Â I was really surprised what I learned; think you will be too. Â Thats all for now.
Listen
Published on Jan 8, 2010 - In: Change| Communication| Creativity| Family
We’re only eight days into the new year and I’ve been feeling at times I’ve been impatient on what God has in store for my family and I. Â I seem to think, I’m much older than I really am or that I really need to get this or that. Â Blame it on hyper-capitalism, but the other day I came across an interview with Conan O’Brien and comedian Louis C. K. and during the interview Louis C.K. said, “Everything is amazing and nobody is happy. We live in an amazing, amazing world, and it’s wasted on the crappiest generation of spoiled idiots.” The interview really resonated with me…
Maybe it’s where I’m at personally right now. Whwn I look at the last twelve-months, the last two and a half years and the road from broadcast to ministry; I feel stressed.  Why?  First off all, it is all a blur.  Secondly the majority of the time was spent waiting, waiting for the right opportunity, waiting till we could financially wean ourselves off my broadcast salary to finally move and then only have to wait again.  I was in a hurry, in a hurry to go and concur, in a hurry to move on to the next best thing.  I think about what God was trying to tell me during those times/experiences.  Be patient? Maybe.  Be humble?  Most definitely.  I believe God was showing me through circumstances, situations, and others that if I slowdown and smell the flowers, everything will be fine in his timing.
Where are you going with this Matt? Â I can relate to what Louis C.K. was talking about; maybe not the idiot part though. Â In the last two decades, I’ve become more and more plugged into technology and my career. Â I remember, when I met my wife I use to draw on napkins and journal in a moleskin. Â I was reading a book or two a month. Â Now, I’m married to my laptop, iphone, and all my other digital/electrical devices. Â These devices have some much power and yet can cause us to get into so much trouble. Â For instance, right now, my son is a sleep on the sofa next to me. Â Peacefully a sleep. Â And here I sit writing a blog post, checking my twitter a half dozen times, and sending a few text messages to work out my next speaking engagement. Â All I want to be doing right now is watching him sleep! Â It’s amazing! Â To have all of this at ones fingertips to communicate and create at times and places when it would not have dreamed possible. It is amazing how quickly we are sucked in.
On Sunday, January 10th, I will be shutting off all my devices once again, to LISTEN, and spend time being intentional about what is to come over the next year. Â During this time I want to focus on Faith, Family and Fitness. Â Most importantly listening to what God has in store for me and my family in this new year and would I encourage you to join in with me.
I Raise My Glass
Published on Dec 30, 2009 - In: Humanitarian
This year, join with me in making a resolution to help those around the world who thirst for safe water. With your help, New Year’s Eve could be a night that promises more than 200,000 people the life-saving gift they’ve been hoping for. Here’s how it works:
On behalf of those who have no voice, will you RAISE YOUR GLASS with me this New Year? Will you resolve to do all you can to bring safe water to those without in 2010?
Will you begin by joining me and my family by giving a $10 donation by New Year’s day? And then share your resolution with others, encouraging them to make a toast and a gift to the nearly one billion people who lack access to safe drinking water?  If your on a mobile device, text message your donation by Texting WMI to 85944 and replying Yes.
I RAISE MY GLASS this New Year and I wish you and your’s a happy and safe New Year!
Related Posts: Search Clean Water
- 5 Days In May
- Drink Water To Give Water
- Would You Drink This