Cell Phone Syndrome

There is an obvious malady that has taken over the world. I call it "cell phone syndrome." Everywhere you look people are on their cell phones. On breaks at work, in the car coming and going, at the table in the restaurant and even jogging down the street it seems that everyone is talking, talking, talking. I must admit that I am guilty too. What is the driving force behind all this need to talk? Are our lives so full of events and exciting developments that we are forced to be on the phone non-stop to share it all? I don't think that is the reason. I think the problem is the same one that causes people to constantly need to have the TV or radio going. We are a lonely people.

A story is told of a young man traveling on a bus to rural Georgia. A fellow traveler asked him about his trip. The young man said, "I am on the way to the countryside because I am lonely." When asked where he was from he replied, "New York City." Amidst all the millions of the city this young man was still lonely. We are much like him. We know many people, talk on the phone for hours and are entertained by the constant presence of TV's and radios, but we are still lonely. What we need is real relationships.

As I think on this need, I am reminded of the greatest relationship there is. Even when there are few or no close relationships with fellow earth-travelers, we find this relationship to bring relief to our loneliness. In Zephaniah 3:17 scripture tells us, "The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." In those times when it seems that no one listens and that there are no obvious answers to our problems, we can count on the presence of the Lord. When no one else notices you He will rejoice over you. When you are disturbed by situations in life He will bathe you in his love. When no one celebrates your joys and victories He will sing out with rejoicing. If God is not your companion, He wants to be today.