Wired For Sound
He could not keep his eyes off his phone.
Reference: Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. (Psalm 64:1 NIV)
Explore: I love people watching. I was watching a couple sitting at a coffee shop the other day.
The female was clearly upset about something and she was pouring out her heart to her male friend.
Unfortunately, it seemed that her friend had something more important to look at. He could not keep his eyes off his phone.
I don’t know if he was on Facebook or texting another friend, but all she got out of him was an obligatory “yup” or a nod of the head. In the end she gave up. She pulled out her phone and started communicating with those online.
Application: We all shake our head when we see this kind of behaviour, and yet, I catch myself doing it all the time. I’ll try to get a quick email out while waiting in the line at the supermarket and I’m taking myself away from the community I’m standing in.
I’ll be sending a text message and a family member will come over to me for a chat. Instead of putting my phone away instantly, I’ll finish my text and then listen. It’s a habit and it’s a bad one.
I’m assuming God doesn’t have Internet access in heaven because He is never distracted. He always takes time to listen to us and to truly hear us.
Let’s take a leaf out of God’s book and give more attention to those around us.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for giving us Your undivided attention. May I do the same for the others I’m around. Amen.
How do you monitor your “screen time”?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.
1 comment:
Love your daily devotionals. Something I read each day. Thank you. They are simply and thought provoking. At present I am doing a Christian counselling course and one of the exercise we have to do over the next to years is actively listen. When I started this course I was often distracted when others talked. We are now being taught to listen. What a difference that has made. People so desperately want to be heard but not many are really listening. I now tend to listen more in group conversation often not saying much at all. It has been a real eye opener. I would also often talk over others or interpret as if what I had to say was more important. But now I think before adding what I need to add. Don’t get me wrong I love talking but I now allow others their time and place. Interested in what they have to say. Making more eye contact as if they are important. It has been a real change in how I communicate and have found those who are really hurting open up more. People just want to be heard. If we only listened more may be less people would be struggling with things like depression and anxiety.