Facetime

​Occasionally, I leave home for work and forget my cell phone behind. While I try to convince myself to survive without it, I inevitably have to run home to grab it. Too many potential necessary communications are tied to my device. In many ways, our cell phones can enrich community. We can be available to connect with so many people without always being physically present. Events and collaboration locally and around the world are more accessible. 

For the past two weeks, our Junior High and High School students have been experiencing their annual fall retreats. Similar to the regular school day, cell phones are excluded. The experience is a great reminder of the even deeper connection available without a device. Research (and common sense) indicate that reducing or eliminating cell phone use can significantly improve mental health, attention, and focus. 

As I write this article, I am observing 165 teenagers engaged in a team-building competition. It is filled with conversation, play, connection, and smiles. Nobody is left out. The night before, during our worship and prayer time, students were quick to pray for each other, recognizing each other’s needs through subtle inferences. Most importantly, the God of the universe came into greater focus. While cell phones can be great, God’s creation is so much better. As temples of His Holy Spirit, being present with fellow believers naturally connects us further with our Creator. 

I encourage each of us to practice and prescribe a habit of regularly “forgetting” our cell phones. Whether it be time limits, restricted times, or a cell phone basket, let’s hit pause on our screens and spend a little more facetime with each other.