Cell phones
Recently, I was standing in the checkout line at a local department store. The woman in front of me was talking on her cell phone. As she approached the cashier at the register, she continued talking on her cell phone. In fact, throughout the entire process of making her purchases . . . she carried on her conversation with her unknown friend on the other end of the call. The young girl who was checking her out actually had to interrupt her conversation several times in order to complete the transaction.
As the woman collected her packages and walked out of the store, she never stopped talking on her cell phone. Not once.
I was amazed.
As I made my purchases, I asked the cashier if that happens often? “If what happens often?” “Do people ignore you while they’re checking out by continuing to talk on their cell phones?” “Oh yeah, all the time.” “How does that make you feel?” “I hate it, but what can I do?”
So, since that young girl doesn’t feel like she can do anything about people being rude to her, treating her as if she had very little value, while continuing their all important conversations, how about you and I doing something about it?
How about you and I ending our conversations on our cell phones BEFORE we get in line to check out? How about you and I looking at the cashier’s name tag and greeting them by name (maybe that’s why they wear them)? How about you and I treating servers everywhere with dignity?
God says, “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (Philippians 2:3-4)
The only way we can live out these words of God is if we are secure in who we are. When we know that we are valuable because we are created in God’s image, then we can add value to others. We can shut off our cell phones and serve the person who is supposed to be serving us.
Ooops, gotta go, my cell phone is ringing.
As the woman collected her packages and walked out of the store, she never stopped talking on her cell phone. Not once.
I was amazed.
As I made my purchases, I asked the cashier if that happens often? “If what happens often?” “Do people ignore you while they’re checking out by continuing to talk on their cell phones?” “Oh yeah, all the time.” “How does that make you feel?” “I hate it, but what can I do?”
So, since that young girl doesn’t feel like she can do anything about people being rude to her, treating her as if she had very little value, while continuing their all important conversations, how about you and I doing something about it?
How about you and I ending our conversations on our cell phones BEFORE we get in line to check out? How about you and I looking at the cashier’s name tag and greeting them by name (maybe that’s why they wear them)? How about you and I treating servers everywhere with dignity?
God says, “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (Philippians 2:3-4)
The only way we can live out these words of God is if we are secure in who we are. When we know that we are valuable because we are created in God’s image, then we can add value to others. We can shut off our cell phones and serve the person who is supposed to be serving us.
Ooops, gotta go, my cell phone is ringing.
posted by Greg Nettle at 7:06 AM
4 Comments:
Here, here! Cell phones in stores are a pet peeve of mine (though I must confess I've been on the phone in a store before, even if I haven't done it through the checkout line). Anyhow, I'd be just as happy if they were unusable in stores and restaurants.
At any rate, your point is well taken. Let's remember who we are and why we're here
I agree. Cell phones have invaded all of our personal spaces. While I agree they are a great convenience, we should all use them with discretion.
Why should all of us be subjected to everyone else's interruptons & conversations?
Mine is never turned on unless I am making or expecting a call. Most of us do not need to be available 24/7.
I agree. While cell phones are a great convenience, they should be used with courtesy to those around us.
We need not be subject to everyone's conversations & interruptions.
Mine is seldom on unless I am making a call or expecting one; we do not all need to be available & connected 24/7. Whatever happened to 'quiet time'.
I've always liked "40-Hour Week (For a Living)" by Alabama:
"There are people in this country
Who work hard every day
Not for fame or fortune do they strive
But the fruits of their labor
Are worth more than their pay
And it's time a few of them were recognized.
Hello Detroit auto workers,
Let me thank you for your time
You work a forty hour week for a livin',
Just to send it on down the line
Hello Pittsburgh steel mill workers,
Let me thank you for your time
You work a forty hour week for a livin',
Just to send it on down the line.
This is for the one who swings the hammer,
Driving home the nail
Or the one behind the counter,
Ringing up the sale
Or the one who fights the fires,
The one who brings the mail
For everyone who works behind the scenes.
You can see them every morning
In the factories and the fields
In the city streets and the quiet country towns
Working together like spokes inside a wheel
They keep this country turning around.
Hello Kansas wheat field farmer,
Let me thank you for your time
You work a forty hour week for a livin',
Just to send it on down the line
Hello West Virginia coal miner,
Let me thank you for your time
You work a forty hour week for a livin',
Just to send it on down the line.
This is for the one who drives the big rig,
Up and down the road
Or the one out in the warehouse,
Bringing in the load
Or the waitress, the mechanic,
The policeman on patrol
For everyone who works behind the scenes.
With a spirit you can't replace with no machine
Hello America, let me thank you for your time..."
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