While on a mission of mercy for my wife, a candy run to See’s Candy, I was
standing in line with the other devotees, when the woman at the head of the line
held things while talking on her phone. Now I and others have become familiar
with the rudeness of others on cell phones, but this woman seemed to take it to
the extreme. This was a small store, with only one woman behind counter, and
four of us in line, but we got the benefit of having of having to listen to this
woman discuss very personal matters of setting up an old woman who was near
death for hospice. We all heard details that were none of our business, and
that we really should not have been privy to. About the only thing we didn’t
find out was her name, but all else seemed exposed to us in line. And to make
it worse, she wenton for about five minutes, while the lady behind the counter
was trying to fill her personal order. While Ms. Cell Phone went on and on,
even making faces behind the poor See’s Candy girl who was trying to help her.
Rude, indifferent, and self absorbed, it seemed the rest of us didn’t matter,
and either did the hospice recipient. Again a strong case against cell phones
and the rudeness that they encourage. I can only be glad that it wasn’t someone
I know in hospice, and that this rude woman was connected with her.
On my ride yesterday, I watched as I ate a mother and her son eating next
to me. They started to talk, his cell rang, and then he cut her off. So she
picked up her cell and called someone, what a tribute to mother/son time. And
this is all too common. I watch as people text while driving, almost cutting me
off, and years ago I was hit by a man who was on his cell. Cut off his hands!
But yet in our it’s all about me world, we all seem to have so much to say to
those who don’t listen. Or won’t listen. So much talk about useless things,
that important messages may not get through. Even when we called 911 a few
weeks ago, it was rerouted from a central dispatch, and we were told to wait,
there would be silence, for maybe a minute. Put on hold at 911? I could get
through to hospice quicker! But yet we are self absorbed by cell phones, and
communicating, just not good at social rules or at being social. Blame it all
on Samuel Morse, inventor of the telegraph, precursor to the phone, “Watson,
come here I need you,” was Thomas Edison’s first phone call, at least Sam’s
first message posed a question, “what hath God wrought?” And today we are
finding out, that many things that start out with good intentions go astray.
From internet to cell phone we have so much information available to us, yet we
have become a stupid people. Which is truly revealed when the power goes out,
and people have to actually talk to each other-face to face Iwas amazed though
at the response in the candy store to this woman. It was one of contempt for
her. Anger from one man, who was insulted and embarrassed for the lady in
hospice. How dare her personal life be paraded in front of strangers? The
woman in back of me started the comments with “how rude, do we have to listen to
her?” But the See’s lady’s comment was the most telling. “That was nothing,
you should hear some of the things I hear. It is worse that a bar in here, all
the personal things I know, and don’t care to hear about.” So where is this all
going?
For years while in line, if someone is talking on their cell in front of
me, I start whistling the National Anthem. Louder than they are talking.
Freedom of speech works both ways. And have been given dirty looks, have had
the offender talk louder, and asked to stop once, she couldn’t hear over my
whistling. So I whistled louder, telling her I couldn’t hear my whistling over
her talking. She called me a name in Spanish, and kept on talking, but softer.
Point made. Yet these willing offenders go on, in church and meetings. While
conducting a meeting once, a man’s phone rang, and he answered it. So I
stopped, and asked can we all be quiet so we can hear better what is going on?
And apologized for trying to conduct business while he interrupted me. He
sheepishly hung up-point made. So, where am I going with this? Freedom of
speech is a right under our Constitution. But not a responsibility. Better to
know the difference than suffer the consequences. Take Jesus for example, under
Jewish law He was convicted unfairly. He could have declared His rights under
the law, but yet chose His responsibility to God, and went to the
cross-willingly. Some theologians claim He was murdered, but He went willingly,
choosing a violent death by crucifixion, to save us and reunite us with His
Father, than claim His own rights. Setting a pattern for humility and love.
But just imagine if He did exercise His rights? What if no death on the cross?
Sure we would miss Good Friday, not celebrate Easter, and miss out on tons of
chocolate consumed. But we would miss heaven, because He is the only way. You
see love gives, He is the ultimate example. He also listened, and gave proper
responses. And He is the original wireless communicator-it is called prayer.
Try that one on your cell friends? Is His number in your cell’s memory? With
so much to talk about, with so little to say, wouldn’t His calling plan be less
expensive, and reap higher rewards? Jesus never dropped a call, His line is
never busy, and it is private-no one is listening, or will interfere. Or
record, listen in, or eavesdrop. NO communication with Him will ever be used
against you! Now what rights do you have Jesus didn’t? And what
responsibilities do you not have He did?
Someone is always listening, all cell phone calls are recorded
somewhere-not for your benefit. So share Jesus, just like we did when our
phones were tapped years ago. Must have really confused the DEA and ATF with
all the kind words and praying they heard. Some sort of code, they must have
thought at first, but love speaks no code. And it doesn’t interrupt either! So
like the Proverb says, “don’t put your ear to the wall to hear your neighbor,
you might not like what you hear.” God is always listening. May change the way
we talk. Or use cells in public. He reads texts too. And t answer Morse’s
question, based on a quote based on Numbers 23:23, “what Hath God Wrought?” The
answer is Jesus! The ultimate communicator. The way to God. To heaven. See,
someone is always listening.
By the way, my wife loved the candy. So it was all worth it.
love with compassion,
Mike
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