This morning I saw something that troubled me greatly, and I feel compelled to share my experience to maybe open some eyes to the sneaky ways Satan slithers into our lives. For he is the master of deception.
My daily commute usually includes a stop at Panera’s. As I was making my way out of the restaurant after purchasing my coffee this morning, a thirty something year old man pushed out of the door ahead of me and went over to his car. I was parked next to him, and was surprised to hear him talking with his little son (about two years old) who had been left alone in the back seat, strapped into his car seat. It concerned me that this son was left in the car while his dad went in to get coffee. Then, to my surprise, he again left his son in the back seat, closed and locked the door, and went back into the restaurant. I waited and watched to make sure the little one was ok, and I could see the father was right inside, and kept checking through the window. I looked into the back seat, and saw that the little boy was holding a cell phone, engrossed with whatever was playing on the screen. Wow…I was just thinking that this father did not fully understand the preciousness of that son that he left alone in the car. If he did, his son would be in line with him…spending beautiful time together in the moment.
Then, as I pulled out of the parking lot and proceeded to drive to work, all around me appeared people with cell phones either on their ears or in their hands in front of them.
It hit me like a ton of bricks…we, as a society, have allowed ourselves to be “marketed” to think that being stuck to 24/7 news, cell phones and social media is being cool and “necessary.” We have been deceived into thinking that whatever is out there in the phone scrolling or tech world, is necessary to our day to day life, and somehow more important than the life that is actually happening around us.
Have we forgotten how to think in the silent moments? Why are we tempted to pick up that cell phone at every stop sign, red light, or even while we are driving to fill up every open moment? Why do we need to fill our minds with endless dribble, instead of allowing our hearts to have quiet time? It is sad, and actually comical to watch a family or group of friends sitting around, all staring and scrolling on their phones. How did we allow Satan to lead us to this absurdness?
What we are losing is the ability to enjoy downtime. Time where we can take a break to enjoy the sights, smells, sounds, and people around us. Time to savor the beauty of God’s creation, and time to be one with Him in silence or through the relationship with those around us.
No…I am not talking about relationship as in a social media post, or an email or text.
I am talking about enjoying relationship through actually being in the presence of those we love, or are in the midst of, each moment. It is focusing on the life going on around us in the moment, and focusing on the people we are with. Not focusing and being lured away by a cold, lifeless piece of electronics.
Parents, husbands, wives, friends, sisters, brothers, grandparents, sons, daughters, grandchildren…when you are drawing your last breath on this earth, you will not be looking for your phone or the internet. You will be yearning for your loved ones and to be in relationship with them, either spiritually or physically.
And even more important, you will be yearning for love and relationship with your heavenly father.
Be sure to build those relationships with the Lord and with each other, during the life you were gifted with, instead of wasting time on inanimate objects!
Be a blessing…and enjoy the blessings…in the moment.
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 1 John 3:1
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25
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