• Home
  • Devotionals
  • BiblePhone
  • Blogs
  • TV
  • Prayer
    • Submit Prayer Request
    • Prayer Requests List
  • Contact us
  • Romanian

Intercer Adventist News

Closer To Heaven

  • About us
    • About Adventist Church
    • About Intercer Adventist News
    • About Intercer
    • About Lucian Web Service
    • Latest News
    • Romanian Church News
  • News and Feeds
    • Intercer Adventist News
    • 60 Second SlideShows
    • “Adventist Tweets” Paper
    • Adventists on Twitter
    • Adventists on Google Plus
    • Bible Resources
      • Adventist Universities Daily Bible
      • Answers For Me
        • Dear God
        • Healthy Living
        • Life Notes
        • Spiritual applications
        • Vegetarian recipes
      • Better Sermons
        • Spirit Renew Quotes
      • Daily Bible Promise
      • E-GraceNotes
        • Bible Says
        • City Lights
        • Family First
        • Staying Young
      • Story Harvest
        • Personal Stories
      • SSNet.org
    • Churches & Organizations
      • Adventist News Network
      • Adventist Review
      • Adventist World Radio
      • Avondale College
      • Babcock University Nigeria
      • BC Alive
      • British Union Conference
      • Canadian Adventist Messenger
      • Canadian Union
      • North American Division News
      • Outlook Magazine
      • PM Church – Pastor’s Blog
      • Potomac Conference
      • Record Magazine – Australia
      • Review and Herald
      • Trans-European Division
      • Washington Conference
    • Health
      • Dr.Gily.com
      • Vegetarian-Nutrition.info
    • Ministries
      • 7 Miracle (Youth)
      • A Sabbath Blog
      • Adventist Blogs
      • Adventist Today
      • ADvindicate
      • Creative Ministry
      • Grace Roots
      • Romanian Church News
      • Rose’s Devotional
      • UNashamed
    • Personal
      • Alexandra Yeboah
      • Iasmin Balaj
      • Jennifer LaMountain
      • McQue’s View
      • Refresh with Tia
      • Shawn Boonstra
  • Sermons & Video Clips
    • Churches
      • Downey Adventist Church
      • Fresno Central SDA Church
      • Hillsboro Adventist Church
      • Mississauga SDA Church
      • New Perceptions Television (PM Church)
      • Normandie Ave SDA Church
      • Remnant Adventist Church
    • Organizations
      • Adventist News Network (ANN)
      • ADRA Canada
      • Adventists About Life
      • Adventist Education
      • Adventist Mission
      • Amazing Facts
      • Adventist Church Connect
      • BC Adventist
      • Church Support Services
      • In Focus (South Pacific)
      • IIW Canada
      • NAD Adventist
      • NAD Church Resource Center (Vervent)
      • NARLA
      • Newbold
      • Review & Herald
      • SECMedia
      • Video Avventista (Italy)
    • Ministries
      • 3AngelsTube.com
      • Answered.TV
      • AudioVerse.org
      • AYO Connect
      • Christian Documentaries
      • GAiN #AdventistGeeks
      • GYC
      • Intercer Websites
      • Josue Sanchez
      • LightChannel
      • Pan de Vida
      • Revival and Reformation
      • Stories of Faith
      • SAU Journalism/Communication
      • Spirit Flash
      • The Preaching Place (UK)
      • Toronto East Youth Nation
    • Personal
      • Esther-Marie Hartwell
      • McQuesView
      • Pastor Manny Cruz
    • Sabbath School
      • Ecole du Sabbat Adventiste
      • Sabbath School Audio Podast
      • Sabbath School daily
  • Resources
    • Bible and Bible Studies
    • Health
    • Music
  • All articles
  • G+ News & Marketplace
    • G+ News & Marketplace Group
    • G+ Page
You are here: Home / News and Feeds / Answers For Me / Dear God / Attention, Please

Attention, Please

September 27, 2018 By admin

Several times this week I have asked for opinions on the appropriate response to the practice of texting messages during church services and small group meetings–as if many of us aren’t already totally vexed with those who indulge in cell phone usage while driving on highways. My last two worship experiences were distracted due to members next to or near me who numerous times turned on their phones to check messages and send texts. I am one who is easily distracted visually, and the screen light from current technology is something that I cannot ignore. I attempt to re-focus and look ahead or re-join a conversation, talk sternly to myself or pray. I realize this may be a sign of my own lack of sustained attention. However, I see it as another symptom of poor brain hygiene in society at large.

By brain hygiene, I mean disciplining oneself to be mindful — to be as present as possible while with another person or situation, worshipping, etc. Paying attention for more than a sound bite or the video length between commercials. Women are especially talented at multitasking, and the pride in having the longest dovetailing checklist can be a personal or social competition; perhaps even a chemical rush from attending to several functions at once. Yet studies have shown that trying to attend to more than two activities at once produces very poor results. Some of my cooking can attest to that. I am also embarrassed to admit that I am guilty of talking to a family member on the phone while sorting or folding, or even checking my e-mail. Technology is the supreme enabler for multitasking.

I have noticed mothers pushing strollers in my neighborhood while they talk on cell phones. The baby or toddler is no longer the object of attention with meaningful observations that contribute to their learning words for passing places or the rhythm of conservation. Even a baby may early start to feel, “What am I, chopped liver?” I can feel invisible on my neighborhood walks when those on the sidewalk have their ears plugged with ear buds. Could they hear me say “Hello,” or scream if I needed help? Then there are the restaurant or doctor office phone conversations that are extremely loud, way too personal or involve business deals. Yuck. My all-time-least favorite are cell phone conversations in restroom stalls.

There has been a lot of discussion about the loss of civility in the world. Certainly respect for the thoughts, words, and presence of other human beings is part of that larger dilemma. A whole world exists outside the invisible bubble that we pretend protects us and allows for phone reception. Then isolation occurs as we move around in large groups of people and we wonder at the intensity of our loneliness.

You may hear or see this on a phone application. For that and other technology, I can be truly thankful. I am just asking for us to consider becoming more fully present — eye contact and heart content. I think Jesus understood this when He said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other. or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24 NIV). The description of Laodicea, the lukewarm people in Revelation 3, may fit much of post-modern life.

Was that a distant trumpet or my e-mail ping?

Questions for personal journaling or group discussion:

1. How would you recommend handling distracting technology in a small group setting or during worship?

2. Find a time each day when you can totally focus on a friend or loved one for at least five minutes. Sit facing each other and talk about your day or what you appreciate about your relationship. At the end of a week, what has happened to your feelings about that person/people?

Karen Spruill writes from Orlando, Florida.

The post Attention, Please appeared first on Answers for Me.

Read more at the source: Attention, Please

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Answers for Me.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Dear God, News and Feeds Tagged With: cell-phone, hate, karen-spruill, learning, life notes, loneliness, myself-or-pray, neighborhood, personal, technology

Related posts


Intercer is proudly sponsored by Lucian Web Service
ClubAdventist.com - Unofficial World Wide Adventist Forums

SkyScraper

Intercer Ministry – Since 1997!

We’re on Pinterest!

Partners


The Seven Thunders Ministry

Recent Posts

  • What Does the Bible Say About the Sabbath?
  • Monday: Hope Amid Turmoil
  • God First: Your Daily Prayer Meeting #1014
  • Daniele 3:28 – Apri la porta del tuo cuore
  • This Is the Rest You Have Been Looking For

About Intercer

Intercer is a website with biblical materials in Romanian, English, Hungarian and other languages. We want to bring the light from God's Word to peoples homes. Intercer provides quality Christian resources...[Read More]

Lucian Web Service


Intercer is proudly sponsored by Lucian Web Service - Professional Web Services, Wordpress Websites, Marketing and Affiliate Info. Lucian worked as a subcontractor with Simpleupdates, being one of the programmers for the Adventist Church Connect software. He also presented ACC/ASC workshops... [read more]

Archives

Follow @intercer

Categories

[footer_backtotop]

Website provided by: Intercer Romania · Intercer Canada · Lucian Web Service · Privacy · Log in


%d