Some of you will be of sufficient age to remember the telephone in the hall. Possibly an extension to another room but one line, shared by all, no automatic answering device, no record of missed calls. In those days, if the ‘phone rang it was answered because it ‘must be important’. People who relied on the telephone for orders for work will have got used to getting up in the middle of meals to have that vital conversation. It was disruptive but seemed unavoidable.
Now, electronic communications come in by a myriad of media, all can be put off for later reading, listening and, if necessary, answering. Here is the solution to the problem of interrupted meal times, intrusive bosses or customers or the problem of work / life balance.
So what went wrong? Why are we more victimised by electronic interruptions now than we used to be when the telephone was seen as a vital tool to be respected but which could not be turned off or to mute? The answer, simplistically at least, lies in the little flag in the system labelled ‘alert’. The way out of the stress creating pinging of the instant message is to turn all alerts silent or off. One of my best decisions was to stop my ‘phone vibrating and stop all messages pinging except those from the immediate family – and even they can get a bit much.
Here is a Lenten suggestion – give up the intrusions in life that devalue the moment you are in by overlaying it with an alert that there may be something better just a click or a small screen squint away. The original telephone was hard wired into the junction box – it could only be silenced by leaving it off the hook, which was an irresponsible thing to do. Then came the little socket, the ability to unplug and give the world the message that one was ‘out’, whether actually out or just ‘out of it’.
Jesus was completely focused, fixed on the course ahead of him. He knew Jerusalem was ahead, Calvary was beyond but those who tried to deflect him from the course were told clearly that he was ‘not available’ and yet those with the focus to follow found his attention to be undivided.
We are blessed to know a God who is there for those who turn to him. His attention on us is undivided; how effective is our management of our alerts that tempt us to break our focus on him and, for what it is worth, spoil our precious moments with one another.
Why not give up interruptions and learn to manage messages; we may even find we have better relationships, even the electronic ones, inconsequence.
A prayer
Loving Father, you are always there for us and you only ignore us when we try to stop you pouring out your love on us. We pray for the wisdom to learn how to manage and prioritise interruptions so that we only respond urgently to the truly urgent. Lord Jesus, who we serve when we respond to the baby’s cry or the sick person’s cry of pain, may we serve you uninterruptedly as we take charge of what is within our grasp to control.
Amen