You are a slave to your cell phone. 

I think it was easier for Moses to free the Jews from 210 years of slavery in Egypt than it will be to free you from your master. And he was God’s messenger. 

And master’s have become far smarter. They have no need to shackle you or impose their will on you physically. There is no threat of starvation, no potential loss of basic human rights, liberties, or freedoms.

Walking back and forth from the surgical center today, a total of 22 city blocks, I found that 1/3 to 2/3’s of all the humans I passed along the way were walking head down interacting with their cell phones. And the rate was higher if you were in a coffee or donut or bagel shop, near 100%

I have walked into restaurants and seen anywhere from half to the entire table looking down on their cell phones and ignoring the others at the table. Even couples out for “date” night where their date was obviously not their partner.

There is no doubt in my mind that if you ask a 2- or three-year-old to draw a picture of mommy or daddy, included will be either ear buds or a cell phone or both. The only question will be color. 

It is rare that I see somebody pushing a baby carriage actually paying attention to the baby. And if they are, that cell phone is in hand ready to be “yes sired” quicker than an army recruit in boot camp. Soon baby strollers will come with lane keep and object warning as standard equipment. 

Apologies in advance because my first cell phone was called the brick way back in 1989. It was a portable 10lb battery with a shoulder strap that I plugged the handset into after disconnecting it from the phone jack in the car. My car had an antenna screwed into the back of the car so it would be able to pick up a signal. Back in those days, having a cell phone antenna on your car was a status symbol. And that device allowed me to not be glued to my house phone when I was on call for my medical practice. It was brilliant. And at $8.00 a minute, my monthly Verizon Wireless bill has not changed one bit, even with far many more phones on it and unlimited usage.

Funny thing is, that although now my cell phone folds in half, fits in my pocket, and weighs a fraction of what my first one did – I think it is a greater burden to carry with me. I must be more mindful to put it down. To pay attention to the people around me, especially when they are making the effort to be with me physically. And just in general, so I can enjoy the world around me. 

It is so easy to glance down at it, to look for posts on twitter or to check emails knowing that there is a significant chance it's spam. And mind you, there is nothing important that requires your immediate attention to it happening at the time you are going to look down at it and ignore the world around you. Zero chance. 

Anyone that needs you, really needs you, will call you. 

Imagine yourself all day walking around with an old fashioned telephone handset attached to your ear waiting for a phone call. Duct taped around your forehead and chin. You would be better off if it were. At least you would have eyes up and be paying attention to the world around you. You would be focusing on the present and waiting for some random unimportant thing to happen in the future. 

Your cell phone is now called a smartphone. I object to that. It is only as “smart” as its operator. And from my observations over the past few decades, it has enslaved its “owner”. It has separated them from their freedom. And in that way, it is smarter than its owner. And I object to that. 

Praying that you are smarter than your “smart” phone. Only you have something to lose.

Hugs,

Wishes for a great day to all,

Each one a gift,

David/