Put Down The Phone...
I think the cell phone might need to officially be listed as a human body part. Everywhere I look, people are on their phones, especially in the city. As I'm taking my weekly trip to Target for groceries, everyone walking around me is on their phone. As I take my seat on the subway train to and from work, everyone around me is on their phone. As I step into a packed elevator in my apartment building, everyone immediately pulls out their phones. I will often look at everyone in these different environments and chuckle to myself, recognizing that we, as a society, have lost the ability to interact with one another in person. Everyone is constantly connected to the virtual world and yet, completely oblivious to the physical world.
Everyone has a story to share.
The person you pass on the street, sit next to on the train, or stand near in an elevator has experiences and wisdom that you may not have. Unless we ask questions and truly listen to one another, we may never know who we are actually walking, standing, or sitting next to. By taking the time to be present to one another, even those who are strangers to us, we get an opportunity to see Christ in that individual and for them to see Christ in us. Personally, I have tried to be more aware of my cell phone usage in public, and one of the best places to see Christ is on public transportation. Here are three individuals that I would not have met had I not put my phone down (I've changed their names to respect their privacy).
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Tony
I take the train almost every day. Usually, I am able to quickly find a seat to enjoy the short ten minute ride to and from work. Everyone keeps to themselves and either listens to music, scrolls through social media, or reads an article on their phones. One rainy morning, I quickly found the nearest open seat, which happened to be next to an older gentleman. I immediately knew he was different than other daily riders when he smiled and said good morning to me (that NEVER happens on the CTA). Rather than pulling out my cell phone to scroll through my Instagram feed (follow me @rebeccasiar12), the man next to me started talking about how miserable the Chicago Bears fans must be at the game that day due to the rain. After finding out his name (Tony) and talking about how the rain makes us both tired, he shared that he only got four hours of sleep the night before because he works four different jobs everyday, going from one job to the next. I asked him about each of his jobs and how he stays awake during the day with only four hours of sleep. He was so proud of each job, as he explained them to me. When the train finally arrived at my stop, I recommended that Tony to get a cup of coffee ASAP to help get him through the rest of the day, and he laughed and thanked me for the recommendation.
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Bella
Occasionally, I have late nights at work, so I'll catch a Lyft ride home. One night, I rode with a woman named Bella. After entering her car, instead of immediately getting on my phone to text a friend, I commented on how good her car smelled and asked her how her day went. She shared how long she had been a Lyft driver, what time/day she gets the best business, where she is from, and how many children she has. She was telling me about each child's individual personality when all of a sudden, a radio commercial came on for the new "It" movie. We both shared how much we disliked scary movies, which led into a great conversation about how and why people like those type of movies, including her daughter. For the rest of the ride, we discussed crazy drivers in the city, fun Chicago festivals and venues to check out, and how her 5 year old son reminded her every day that week that he was looking forward to going to the "pool" (AKA: Lake Michigan) for Labor Day weekend. She had me laughing almost the entire ride! As she pulled up outside of my apartment building, I thanked her and told her to have a great weekend trip with her family.
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Jack
I was headed home for the Christmas holiday and had some time to spare to grab a quick bite to eat. Once I got through the long security line at Midway airport, I decided to stop by Harry Caray's to enjoy a peaceful meal before catching my flight home. I put my name on the waiting list and patiently waited for them to call my name. "Rebecca........and...Jack!" Puzzled as to why they called my name along with a stranger's name, I approached the hostess counter at the same time as a man a few years older than me. We both looked at each other and awkwardly tried to tell the hostess that we weren't together, yet she either ignored us or didn't hear us because she began to lead us back to two small tables pushed together. Still confused, we both sat down at opposite ends of the table, and the waiter came to our table to take our drink orders. Again, we both awkwardly try to tell him that we weren't together, and he explained that it was easier to take both of our orders together rather than visiting us individually. After we ordered, I pulled out my phone and was getting ready to answer some emails for work, but instead, I said to the man, "Well, if we're going to be eating together, I guess I should at least know your name." I found out his name was Jack, and he was originally from the Rockford area, but moved to North Carolina with his wife. I also found out that Jack was in town to attend the funeral of his best friend, who had just passed away from cancer. I slowly put my phone back in my purse, and we talked through the entire meal. He told me about his job, how he met his wife (who was pregnant with their first child!!), and even fun memories about his best friend. After our meal, we thanked each other for the great conversation, and I told him I would pray for him, his wife, and their new little one.
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Everyone has a story to share.
There are SO many other stories of random people I have met over the years just by saying hello or being present to those around me. I challenge YOU to put down your phone in public and find the Tonys, Bellas, and Jacks out there. If you get an opportunity for a conversation, take it! You never know who you are going to meet. If it's not the right situation or you need time to yourself, then take a moment to appreciate God's creation around you. Count your blessings. Pray! Enjoy the rare moment of disconnecting from the craziness of life.
