At the beginning of each Mass at my parish, an announcement is made urging attendees to turn off or silence cell phones and pagers. I regularly hear cell phones going off during Mass. In fact, a cell phone went off during the funeral Mass for my father.
This invasive cell phone culture is indicative of the clash between progressive technology and morality. There are some much more important debates to be had in this philisophical arena - the debate regarding the appropriate use of stem cell technology is one. However, I would argue that the cell phone issue currently has a huge tangible impact on our lives. How often have we been talking with a person whose cell phone rings. That person then looks at the caller ID and must make a snap decision - Should I continue my conversation or take this call on my cell phone?
We have become a society that is trying to juggle too many things at the same time. Society simply reflects us as individuals. Many people complain that I don't answer my home phone or my cell phone. I have made a conscious decision to not interupt what I am doing, especially if it involves talking with someone in person, to answer the phone. I have voice mail on both my home phone and my cell phone. If I am able, I always answer the phone when it rings. However, to truly cultivate the relationships and the interests I have, I do not necessarily drop everything that I am doing to see who is calling me. I have to concentrate on the issue at hand. Otherwise, I will have a bunch of half-baked projects and relationships surrounding me.
Live life one day at a time. Interact with people one person at a time. Let the phone ring while you are enjoying time with family and friends.
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