The Inconvenience of Cell Phones

Published on November 8, 2005 By HC1240 In Misc

Thanks to Ted for the spark that ignited this contemplation... Link

I've come to despise the effect communication technology has on my life.

Do I own a cell phone? Yes. I have one. Hubby has one. Teenaged daughter has one (and is not allowed to drive the car without having it charged and on her person). It has come in handy when I am out and have forgotten what I needed to pick up at the grocer's... and when I'm sitting on the side of the road because my car battery died.

I realized several months ago, however, how this technological "advancement" was affecting my relationships. Being a type A personality, I can't do just one thing at a time. Often, once I'm in the car and on the road, I use the time driving to catch up on phonecalls I need to return (hands-free, of course). One night in particular, the point was driven home to me (no pun intended). My daughter and I got into the car to drive home from a meeting and I immediately dialed my husband's number. She sighed and commented, "We're not even MOVING yet and you're on the phone?" It dawned on me then just what my cell phone use was saying to her. It said, "You're not important to me. I have better things to do than spend this time talking with YOU." Ouch.

I've also experienced this from the other side of the coin. Riding to a doctor's appointment with my husband last week, I found myself irritated because the entire time he had service, he was on the phone. I discovered firsthand what my daughter feels like when I do the same to her... second-rate, inconsequential, not worthy of speaking with.

Communication technology promises that we will be more connected with others... yet it really fragments my conversation. Meaningful relationships are reduced to snippets of interrupted chats and hurried email messages. Each is interrupted by the next call... message... etc.

My relationship with God also suffers from this constant barrage of intrusions. In a less tech-savvy time, I could easily spend an hour or more in thoughtful meditation and prayer. Now I find myself less than able to give God my undivided attention. The phone rings and rather than let it go... I answer it. Or spend the next twenty minutes wondering who it was, completely distracted from what I set out to be doing. "Shut the ringer off," you say. Yes... but what if one of the children needs me? What if there's been a hangup with that motherboard we ordered and it's not coming in? Easier said than done.

With each day I find myself more and more exhausted from trying to keep up with the demands of my cell phone and email account. I think the root of the problem is my desire to be in control. Maybe I don't trust God to handle the details of life, and I need to make sure I'm available to take care of it all. My need to be "in touch" constantly also says to me that my priorities are a mess. I can't decide what's most important, so I try to do everything at once. Sometimes I feel like a mouse spinning on a wheel.

I am not saying that cell phones are evil. I'm saying that I need to learn how to put technology into its proper place in my life... figure out a way to live with it, without losing my sanity or sacrificing things that I don't want to give up. I need to find a way to create space for my soul... I want to give my family my undivided attention so that they know without a doubt they are the most important people in my life. I want to spend quality time with my friends, looking into their eyes and drinking in every word they have to say, rather than piecing together their words in between static-filled patches of blanked out cell service. I want to take a time-out to read God's Word in silence, without the multitude of distractions that crowd in, threatening to lure my attention away. I want it to be quiet enough to hear His voice.

So if you call and get the machine... leave a message. I'll get back to you when I have time to give YOU my undivided attention. You are worth nothing less.

Comments (Page 1)

Dr Guy

on Nov 08, 2005

I am not saying that cell phones are evil. I'm saying that I need to learn how to put technology into its proper place in my life...

So if you call and get the machine... leave a message. I'll get back to you when I have time to give YOU my undivided attention. You are worth nothing less.

You have learned well my young Jedi! I learned this early! And still practice it.

Well done young Liea Skywalker!

ParaTed2k

on Nov 08, 2005

The key to technology and conveniences is making them help our lives... instead of run our lives. ;~D

Thanks for the inspirational kudos... and the link!

singrdave

on Nov 08, 2005

I have a bad habit of making telephone calls while driving to far-away errands. So my intended target gets an earful of "ummm.. what?" "Hold on a sec, there's a problem..."

Yeah, that's staying in touch.

HC1240

on Nov 09, 2005

You have learned well my young Jedi! I learned this early! And still practice it.Well done young Liea Skywalker!

Thank you, kind sir.

HC1240

on Nov 09, 2005

Thanks for the inspirational kudos... and the link!

You're more than welcome. Thanks for the inspiration

HC1240

on Nov 09, 2005

My point exactly!

foreverserenity

on Nov 09, 2005

Cell phones, so convenient and so useful until we let them rule our lives! Glad you realised what's more important to you! Nice article.

Dr Guy

on Nov 09, 2005

Cell phones, so convenient and so useful until we let them rule our lives! Glad you realised what's more important to you! Nice article.

Very true. Mine gives me freedom. Freedom from waiting for a call. But unless I know the caller (and it is either my children or wife), or am expecting the call, I let it bounce to voice mail.

HC1240

on Nov 09, 2005

Cell phones, so convenient and so useful until we let them rule our lives! Glad you realised what's more important to you! Nice article.

Thanks

Very true. Mine gives me freedom. Freedom from waiting for a call. But unless I know the caller (and it is either my children or wife), or am expecting the call, I let it bounce to voice mail.

A great perspective. Thanks, doc

KFC

on Nov 13, 2005

Thanks HC for reminding me why I don't have a cell phone. Was thinking of getting one but now.....not so sure. I'm tied enough now to this computer.....but since you've been away I'm sure the cell came in handy to call home to check on things. We tried to call you on your cell but you did not pick up.

hey ...we MISSED you today!! But I gave your daughter lots of hugs for you!! Not the same I'm sure but it was my pleasure!! Love her to pieces!!

Dr Guy

on Nov 13, 2005

hey ...we MISSED you today!! But I gave your daughter lots of hugs for you!! Not the same I'm sure but it was my pleasure!! Love her to pieces!!

Another piece of the puzzle! Uh, huh!

You are always welcome on my blog if you are a friend of HC! Finest kind!

HC1240

on Nov 14, 2005

We tried to call you on your cell but you did not pick up.

I actually used Trace's phone to call home (she's got unlimited long distance - I was "roaming" at 70 cents per minute... yikes!). The only time I used mine was in the airports.

hey ...we MISSED you today!! But I gave your daughter lots of hugs for you!! Not the same I'm sure but it was my pleasure!! Love her to pieces!!

Thanks... I missed being there. Was frustrated when my initial flight to Chicago got delayed. I could have gone to church in Peoria afterall. Grrrrrrrrr. Ah, well. Hope you all had a blessed service.. thanks for the hugs. Can never have enough of those, although you're right... not the same as Mom's.

You are always welcome on my blog if you are a friend of HC! Finest kind!

Aaaaaaaah... I knew I was good for something! ROFL

Papa

on Nov 17, 2005

While you are on the subject of cell phones.... It's bad enough that they take control of us but it is also irritating to those that call to have to wait while you answer call waiting!!!!!! Good Grief have we gotten to the point that we HAVE to interupt someone when they call, to speak to someone else while the original caller waits. One of the reasons I won't have call waiting!!! I can only talk to one person at a time, and if someone is on the other line waiting I am cheating them of my attention and my friendship! How rude!
2nd pet peeve! People that drive and talk on the phone are not paying attention to their driving, even if it's hands free. Driving is a full time activity and you never know when that disasterous situation is suddenly going to pop up.
Yes I do have a cell phone and make very limited use of it in the car. I have been making myself pull over when I need to talk for any length of time.
If a person calls and the line is busy they will call again! Business or pleasure calls. Ok you really pushed my hot button on that one Heather!

!!! Still love ya tho!

HC1240

on Nov 18, 2005

If a person calls and the line is busy they will call again! Business or pleasure calls. Ok you really pushed my hot button on that one Heather! !!! Still love ya tho!

.. you too

thedaughter

on Nov 19, 2005

i love you...

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