Building One Another

DISTRACTION Vol 9 No 8

February 23, 2010

Dear Friend,

I was walking down the street on a pretty day with fluffy white clouds floating in a stunning blue sky and birds chirping in the trees – while staring down at my smartphone – when it hit me, “What are you doing?”

Missing life around me that was what I was doing.

Increasingly we read about people who have become oblivious to the world around them as they stare at their smartphones.  There is even an app that gives you a live video feed of what is in front of you as you walk along typing.

Now while I am a fan of the many good uses of smartphones I am also aware that they can lead us to become unaware of the people and places around us.

I love the word of Edward Bosworth in his 1910 book Christ in Everyday Life, "What gets your attention gets you!"

Above all, I want our Lord and the people around me to be those who get my attention – and so get me!

“When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’” Luke 19:5*

If Jesus had been walking with a smartphone, he would have missed Zacchaeus!  Let the good Lord and those around you get your attention today!

With joy - E. Stanley Ott                               

Copyright 2010 E. Stanley Ott     

*Scripture from the NRSV