Phone-y Community

When Jesus wanted to convince his disciples that he was back from the dead, fully embodied, fully alive, he looked them in the eye and ate food.

In a small way Jesus teaches us about human connection: show up, engage, and be all in. However more and more we struggle to be fully present with people around us, and our phones are partly to blame. It's ironic; phones were meant for connection.

I invite you to answer these questions honestly:

Do you find yourself struggling to look away from your electronic device when someone in the room begins speaking with you?

When having a conversation with Friend 1, do you take calls or texts from Friend 2?

Have you gone out to a restaurant with friends for a special celebration only to find half the gang chatting or texting with people not around the table?

Have you been in a meeting, heard your phone beep, and it kills you not to look?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions you might be a victim of half-tasking, the tendency to give half your attention to one thing, and half to your device. We defend our behavior by saying we are multi-tasking, but we can't. When you take 100% of your attention and split it between your phone and people, people usually lose out.

Missionary Jim Elliot once gave advice in an era before digital technology. He implored: "Wherever you are, be all there." When we're "all there" we will turn from our laptop and give two-eye attention to our friend and ignore the text that would interrupt a good conversation.

Mobile devices have made easy connecting with friends far away, but at what price for the folks with whom you are eating fish?

Father, help me to put away distractions when I'm with friends and family, especially technology. Help me to be fully engaged with them and give them my full attention, just as Jesus did with his disciples. Amen.

Throughout the Day: During a meal whether out or at home, consider leaving all the phones on a distant counter until the meal is over.