May 17, 2020
Some day when future generations look back at the introduction of cell phones into our world it will be like that story, “A Tale of Two Cities”. It was the best of inventions, it was the worst of inventions… It is strange how that phone in our back pocket has become such a necessity when we didn’t even have them 20 years ago. (Did we?) I do love that I can be reached by people who need me anywhere, anytime. I also love that I can (almost) always reach them. I can’t imagine taking a “road trip” these days without a cell phone, in case we have car trouble, need directions or want to find the nearest Whataburger. I can take pictures and videos, send them to my family and friends and they can do the same. Shopping, listening to music, reading a Kindle book, checking in on social media (if I had any) and playing games are all easily done on my phone. No more looking around at the walls or smiling and nodding at total strangers in lines and waiting rooms. Waiting for anything goes faster if we can be on our phones. My favorite feature is FaceTime. Nothing makes my day better than seeing my grandson’s chubby cheeks and hearing him say his version of “Love you, Grandmother!” So, what’s the down side? That list is much longer, but I try to be positive in my writing, so I will just list a few that I see most often. Most dangerous: texting/talking and driving. Most annoying: people on their phones in the middle of the grocery aisle, discussing drama. Most disturbing: illegal activities. Most sad: people everywhere, on their phones, instead of being “in the moment”. I work at a one-story high school with (approximately) 3600 students and the halls are very crowded between classes. It is a river of pungent humanity, shoulder to shoulder as everyone moves from one class to another. Maybe that helps them walk straight without looking where they’re going, since so many are staring down at their phones. We (teachers) do our best to keep them off their phones during class, but as soon as the bell rings, it’s (clear) backpacks on, phones out. Many put earphones on to listen to music, they call their moms, text their friends, check Instagram, play video games and watch YouTube, all while walking in the middle of 3599 other teenagers. It is very different than when I was in high school. Passing periods were our social time. We said “hi” to everyone. (My dad used to say that’s why they call it “hi school”.) Our feelings of rejection were real life (he didn’t say hi to me!), not social media shuns (all my friends are in that picture, why wasn’t I invited?). The devastating effects of social media… a topic for another day. One of the saddest things I’ve seen is a student who would come into class every day, acting like she was talking on her phone so that she didn’t have to look alone or sad, when, that was exactly what she was… alone and sad. Other students did not notice, (they were in their own worlds) but she never got by me without a “hi”. I’m hoping that the Great Quarantine will help some people be so sick of their phones that they start engaging more with other humans when they are allowed. Staring at our phones is an escape from reality. Are we living at the corner of “here and now” or the intersection of “oblivious and fantasy land”? God wants us to look around and see what each day has to offer. I can feel him saying slow down, look around, “stop and smell the roses”, embrace your people, pay attention to me! We never know what we may be missing when we don’t look up. Ephesians 5:16-17 says this: “So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to.” In Romans 12:2 we find this: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” And Psalm 118:24 says: “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” It is a beautiful day! Smile and be joyful!
Some day when future generations look back at the introduction of cell phones into our world it will be like that story, “A Tale of Two Cities”. It was the best of inventions, it was the worst of inventions… It is strange how that phone in our back pocket has become such a necessity when we didn’t even have them 20 years ago. (Did we?) I do love that I can be reached by people who need me anywhere, anytime. I also love that I can (almost) always reach them. I can’t imagine taking a “road trip” these days without a cell phone, in case we have car trouble, need directions or want to find the nearest Whataburger. I can take pictures and videos, send them to my family and friends and they can do the same. Shopping, listening to music, reading a Kindle book, checking in on social media (if I had any) and playing games are all easily done on my phone. No more looking around at the walls or smiling and nodding at total strangers in lines and waiting rooms. Waiting for anything goes faster if we can be on our phones. My favorite feature is FaceTime. Nothing makes my day better than seeing my grandson’s chubby cheeks and hearing him say his version of “Love you, Grandmother!” So, what’s the down side? That list is much longer, but I try to be positive in my writing, so I will just list a few that I see most often. Most dangerous: texting/talking and driving. Most annoying: people on their phones in the middle of the grocery aisle, discussing drama. Most disturbing: illegal activities. Most sad: people everywhere, on their phones, instead of being “in the moment”. I work at a one-story high school with (approximately) 3600 students and the halls are very crowded between classes. It is a river of pungent humanity, shoulder to shoulder as everyone moves from one class to another. Maybe that helps them walk straight without looking where they’re going, since so many are staring down at their phones. We (teachers) do our best to keep them off their phones during class, but as soon as the bell rings, it’s (clear) backpacks on, phones out. Many put earphones on to listen to music, they call their moms, text their friends, check Instagram, play video games and watch YouTube, all while walking in the middle of 3599 other teenagers. It is very different than when I was in high school. Passing periods were our social time. We said “hi” to everyone. (My dad used to say that’s why they call it “hi school”.) Our feelings of rejection were real life (he didn’t say hi to me!), not social media shuns (all my friends are in that picture, why wasn’t I invited?). The devastating effects of social media… a topic for another day. One of the saddest things I’ve seen is a student who would come into class every day, acting like she was talking on her phone so that she didn’t have to look alone or sad, when, that was exactly what she was… alone and sad. Other students did not notice, (they were in their own worlds) but she never got by me without a “hi”. I’m hoping that the Great Quarantine will help some people be so sick of their phones that they start engaging more with other humans when they are allowed. Staring at our phones is an escape from reality. Are we living at the corner of “here and now” or the intersection of “oblivious and fantasy land”? God wants us to look around and see what each day has to offer. I can feel him saying slow down, look around, “stop and smell the roses”, embrace your people, pay attention to me! We never know what we may be missing when we don’t look up. Ephesians 5:16-17 says this: “So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to.” In Romans 12:2 we find this: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” And Psalm 118:24 says: “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” It is a beautiful day! Smile and be joyful!
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