I went to a funeral, today.
Funerals are never easy, but it was good to know that this aged gentleman knew Jesus and would be spending the rest of eternity in heaven.
I don’t normally write a blog post about a personal experience like this and publish it the same day — especially when the previously published blog post is on a similar subject: No Smartphones at Concerts? What About During Worship?
Let me tell you what happened to me just a few hours ago:
At Today’s Funeral
While I stood in the back of the church sanctuary in this Italian cemetery and listened to my pastor conduct the service, I was shocked at how many times the service was interrupted with the sound of cell phones.
It wasn’t once. It wasn’t twice. It was easily a dozen times.
At one point, my pastor asked everyone if they could please turn their phones off for a few more minutes until the service was over.
The first few offenders I can almost understand. Maybe they forgot to turn off their phone or turn their ringer off. But after several phones rang, wouldn’t you check your phone? Moreover, when the pastor conducting the service asks you to please silence your phone, why wouldn’t you?
Have we become overly dependent on our mobile devices?
When we can’t disconnect or unhook from our telephone or mobile web for a few hours, I begin to wonder who is really in control of technology. Cell phones and the mobile web should be making life smoother, not adding more interruptions.
So, when you are attending a funeral, wedding, concert, movie or — dare I say, church service — the moment your modern convenience inconveniences others and interrupts what is going on, you are putting yourself before others and that is not cool.
Learn to rule your cell phone, or your cell phone will rule you.
[Smartphone ringer image via Johan Larsson via Compfight cc]
David says
It does make me consider what they thought the purpose of the funeral was. Was it simply obligatory? To comfort others? How strongly did they feel about that need?
When you look to your phone, you’re saying to yourself, “I”d rather be some place else right now.” That’s a shame when you’re someplace special or significant.
We need to choose to disconnect. Could you leave the house without your phone? Even for 4-5 hours? If you really needed a phone, everyone else has one…
How about using your phone as a phone for the day?
These devices aren’t going away. It is up to us to learn to control ourselves.
Also. Remember: Don’t be that president.
Eric Dye says
“When you look to your phone, you’re saying to yourself, “I”d rather be some place else right now.” That’s a shame when you’re someplace special or significant.”
Whoa. That’s heavy stuff there.
David says
A memorial isn’t anyone’s first choice. But, it is one of those where you need to be “present in the moment”. We are all better than that – better than just coasting through.
David says
Not to belabor the point. But this is another reason.
I Dare You To Watch This Entire Video by College Humor (but they’re serioius)
Eric Dye says
Excellent. 😀