For the past several years, I have worn a smartwatch on my wrist. While there are many different watch faces I can display, I prefer one that presents a wide range of information at a glance.
Not only does my smartwatch tell me the time, it shows the weather for the next five days, the current phase of the moon, where the sun is in its daily movement across the sky and the temperature outside at any given moment.
In the lower left of the screen are three circles: red, green and blue. These rings represent progress against my physical activity goals for the day —one for exercise goal, one for my standing goal and the third for overall activity goal.
When I achieve these goals for the day—indicated by a completed ring —my watch vibrates with a little fireworks display. It is a visual and often motivating confirmation of my efforts to ward off a sedentary lifestyle. I feel a sense of accomplishment when each of those rings is closed by the end of the day.
But what if that display were to indicate not physical activity, but spirtitual activity? What if those rings were tracking how wearers were being the hands and feet of the Lord?
Perhaps the indicators could mark something simple – a tracker for whether we read our Daily Texts and prayed the day’s prayer, or a visual indication of spending time with the Bible.
Or maybe one of those rings would grow when we feed the hungry or the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless or visit the sick and imprisoned. The second would fill in as we work for justice, help in our communities or partner with others to bring about a better world. And the third would indicate our activity helping with mission efforts to bring people to a life with God.
And instead of a visual firework when we reach our goals for these aspects of our life in Christ, perhaps a chorus of allelulias or a blessing could celebrate our progress?
Each of us has our own way of tracking our spiritual well-being and efforts toward making our worlds better places. But I have to wonder if closing a ring on my watch can motivate me to walk more or be more active, would doing the same for my “feed the hungry” or “working for justice” rings motivate me to do more in efforts that really matter? Perhaps an e-mail to the tech powers that be is in order…
I hope you enjoy this final issue of 2024, which for some may arrive in the beginning of 2025. May this year bring you joy and peace…and the motivation to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.
Peace,
Mike
