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Disconnected
When I recently spoke at a retreat, the organizers there asked for my cell phone number. I told them I don’t own a cell phone and they looked at me like I had said I don’t have indoor plumbing. It’s not that I ever decided not to get one. It’s just that I never decided to get one, if you get the distinction.
No doubt I’ll give in eventually, like I finally purchased an answering machine—and then was annoyed at people who didn’t have one when I called.
I did have a microwave oven once (my mother gave me her old one) but banished it when my Mr. Science Guy nephew told me it nukes 98 percent of the nutrients in food. May as well cut up and eat a magazine picture of steak, peas, and mashed potatoes, like the Depression era kid did in the movie King of the Hill.
There have been a few times I wished I had a mobile phone—like when I was sitting along Route 75 in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in a crumpled car after swerving to avoid a deer.
Someone sent me these thoughts on cells, which I would like to share:
“I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones. What if we carried it around in our pockets? What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? What if we flipped through it several times a day? What if we used it to receive messages from the text? What if we couldn’t live without it? We don’t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.”
back to top36 Comments to “Disconnected”
My husband didn’t have his own cell either until we met/began dating each other. He then decided that there a reason.
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We didn’t have a cell phone for quite a while. Now my wife and I each have one. I call her when I reach the ferry dock to let her know which ferry I will be taking. She called me once when she had been in a scary automobile accident involving some ice on the road, though she fortunately was not injured. I called the sheriff’s department when I hit a deer, though once they determined I was not injured, they were not injured. I also called hte sheriff’s department when I saw a driver speeding and driving in an erratic manner.
My wife won’t have a microwave in our house, though when we visit our daughter she happily use their microwave.
I see no reason to carry around a Bible. I do read a bit of it once in a while, though I don’t consider it to be the “Word of God.”
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I was one of the last folks to buy a digital pager. That was when Cindy was pregnant with baby #1. She was in Austin and I was in school at Fort Sam Houston. Not sure whatever happened to that old-style pager.
First cell phones I recall were mainly carried by on call physicians and realtors eager to close a deal.
And for the truly tech savvy, you can get the Bible loaded onto a blackberry.
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I have a Bible on my PDA. Aside from eight versions, it also contains a dozen devotionals, Strong’s concordance, the complete works of Josephus, and several commentaries and dictionaries. You bet I turn back to get it when I forget it, particularly when I’m getting ready to leave on travel. Nothing takes the stress out of a long plane ride like the living Word.
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I used hubby’s old cell phone last night to call my brother to let him know I had figured out how to set up the fax so he could call the land line and send the diagram I am supposed to figure out how to add to the permit application. Normally, I keep it in the car turned off for when the car breaks down, along with a list of phone numbers of people who have offered to help. But I would guess I read my Bible and think about the words in it a lot more than I use or think about the cell phone.
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My daughter uses her cell instead of a landline. In fact, she and her roomate don’t have a landline because they both have cell phones.
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Klasko,
I think that is true of all of my grown kids. Which is why I don’t call them. Well, I call daughter as she assures me she has my ring identified and will not pick up if she is driving.
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Andree:
I’ve had friends who steadfastly resisted getting a cell phone, and relied solely on land lines. And back in the ’90s, when cell phones were still a novelty, that was understandable and fine. These days, however, for the sake of safety, convenience, and sheer usefulness, cell phones are becoming more and more a necessity. One friend who finally gave in immediately began enjoying his cell phone, especially the games (until he got hit with the bill for excessive texting, and began disciplining himself).
So, until you finally “give in” to the temptation, and becoming assimiliated by the Cell Phone Collective, enjoy…
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I didn’t have a cell phone until about three years ago. My wife has had one for years. One time, at a large outdoor mall at Myrtle Beach, we missed-communicated on a meeting place. After about 45 minutes, I tried to call her cell phone from a pay phone. A call to a cell phone 500 yards away is a long distance call at Mytrle Beach. I never did get through. Shortly after that, I got my own cellphone on her plan. I use very few minutes, but it’s worth it.
We didn’t have a microwave until everyone else but us and Mumsee had a microwave. We had our kitchen in Annandale remodeled and added a microwave. I don’t see how civilization ever managed without it.
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Sorry Mumsee, I had just read your post and it was on my mind, I guess. It’s Andree who didn’t have a microwave.
I doubt that it nukes 98% of nutrients in food.
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I only got a microwave when I was given one. I didn’t particularly want it. Then when we moved to our current house, it came with one built in.
If it were my say, I’d probably opt to not have one. To me it’s nothing but an expensive popcorn popper. That’s about all I use it for. I’d rather reheat food in the oven or on the stove.
My husband wants his leftovers yesterday.
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I’m with you Klasko. I still don’t have a microwave.
A few years ago in speaking with my sister, I said “I don’t have cable. I’m not paying for tv when I get such great reception. Why should I?” She then asked me if I had a VCR — which was odd because her husband had purchased one for me years before — and I said yes, a VCR/DVD combo. She felt better, but asked if I had a microwave? No. She forced me to get the answering machine — in fact, someone else bought it for me. A cell phone? Gave it up when I left Newark (had it for safety).
Well, I recently got another cell phone, and it does come in handy for business (and I can use my dialup and still receive calls so it is a help), but I control who gets the cell number. We are all in control of any devices we use.
As to what I carry in my purse: a small New Testament and a pocket Constitution.
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We use a microwave for cooking vegetables, heating leftovers, heating water (easier and I suspect more efficient that using a teakettle, especially as I can heat exactly the amount I want), and of course popcorn. I seriously doubt the claim that 98% of nutrients are destroyed, or anything close to it. Generally studies have shown that less nutrients are lost using the microwave than the stovetop.
If you cook vegetables in water, a lot of water-soluble nutrients are lost no matter which way you cook them. If you steam them with just a little water you lose a lot less. And I find I can more easily steam them in the microwave, because I don’t have to watch them, just set the timer. (So they can’t go dry as they might on the stovetop if I get distracted by the puppy or kids or the phone.)
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We don’t use our microwave, we grill our meat, and lightly boil vegetables or they are sauteed.
As far as a cell phone goes, I’ve had one since they became available. I have posted before that on at least 3-4 different times, it’s been instrumental in saving my life, or that of my husband and I. Cell phones have become a necessity - crime isn’t always where you might expect it to be, its always a surprise - cell phones allow one to contact authorities right away.
We carry Bibles in our cars, and extra new ones if we meet people who want them.
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Cellphones are great for teachers.
Call the parents.
Put the cell phone on speaker phone.
Hand it to the kid in trouble.
Listen to see if the parent curses out the kid who is acting-up.
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We got a cell a year ago (and finally, a digital camera), when we went on a 5 week trip across the US. It came in very handy for calling ahead and reserving spots in campgrounds while on the road as well as staying in touch with family on both coasts and inbetween.
Both my parents (in their 70’s) carry cells. Dad is a brittle diabetic, so safety is definately a factor. My folks are in KY (from AK) right now where Dad’s brother passed away yesterday. It is very nice to be able to call Mom on her cell wherever she is down there to check in that all is well - and it’s a local call for me.
We do have two cells, but my husband rarely carries his. Again, it’s nice to have the extra one to send with the kids when they’re out biking. Running into moose or bear here (even in the city) is a very real threat.
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Bob, excellent points -
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Comparing cells to Bibles is apples and oranges. A cell phone is a tool. At least in our house; I asked for one with no games when we got them. The Bible is not a tool - or shouldn’t be for a Christian. I would respectfully question the validity of the comparison/illustration.
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I predict before the end of this century, humans will begin having cell phones installed in their brains.
While you think someone is listening to you, they will be subvocalizing arrangements for a date on their internal cell phone.
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I think Akmom has a point.
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Because I don’t think of cell phones as essential, or any phone for that matter, I did not see the comparison as an issue. Akmom brings up the actual topic and I have to say, if I spent as much time in the Word as I do on here, playing Spider, commenting on WOW, reading comments, checking this and that of things that could not possibly go on without me checking them (world news for example) I would be more inclined to think of my Lord always, pray always, meditate on the word always, and treat my neighbor with the love and respect He calls me to. Food for thought, thanks again Andree.
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I have finally joined the cell phone users club. I had one when I was in the U.S. for my last furlough because I had to have a number to give pastors who wanted to contact me when I was traveling. I also thought it was a good idea to have one since I was driving long distances and in strange towns by myself. Here in Africa, cell phones are everywhere. Almost everyone has one and many people have more than one since the various cell phone companies charge high rates to call a number on another network. I resisted until a few months ago. The price was finally reasonable and most people would not call my land line because it cost too much. (They also don’t like the land line because they can’t “beep” me. People like to call me and hang up so that I have to call them back and use my credit-our cell phones are all pre-paid-so that they don’t have to spend any money for the call).
I am notorious for throwing my phone somewhere and going about my business. I’m not all that attached to it. I also choose when I answer and when I don’t. On days when I need to rest, I never turn the phone on. If someone really needs to get in touch with me,they can call my land line. So do I pay more attention to my cell phone than the Word of God. I don’t think so. As was stated earlier, a cell phone is a tool and like a lot of things, it can take over your life if you let it (ahem, computers, internet, television).
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I got a cell phone five years ago when I moved to Tennessee, where I’d be driving long distances (in an old car) and didn’t yet really know anybody. But I have prepay and leave it off, so I don’t give anybody the number unless they need it for a specific reason.
I have a microwave, but it’s really for my roommates (I didn’t have one till my previous roommate moved in and brought one with her), and I recently removed the dishwasher I’d never even tried and put a small freezer in its place.
Let’s see–I do have voice mail on my landline (a necessity for business), I don’t have cable TV, my DVD player isn’t hooked up yet so I’m still using video. When I bought a new camera two and a half years ago when my previous one broke, I stayed with a film camera.
But unlike Mumsee, I do have air conditioning.
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On the local news tonight, there is a report of an elderly man (younger than I am though) who went with his wife into the Pisgah Nat’l Forest here in western NC. They got separated and he is lost. He needs medication. They are searching for him.
Last year, some Boy Scouts were lost for two days.
There is no excuse, these days, for a person to go into the forest without a GPS reciever (less than $100) and a cell phone.
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They found the man, alive.
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Chas,
Delighted to hear he made it home safely. Most of the places I go for camping do not have cell phone coverage, I don’t know about GPS but imagine it is similar. Our nation has vast wilderness and national forest holdings with no reception. If you are going to need it, don’t go there. If somebody is lost and do not have it, do not presume that cell phones would save the day.
On the other hand, a recent story from Canada was of a couple mountain climbing and losing their gear from the eighteen inch ledge they were on. They were unable to climb up or down without it but did have a cell phone. They had to stay there a couple of days as storms did not allow for rescue but they made it. Incredible things do happen and cell phones may be involved.
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Mumsee, I suspected that a cell phone may not have coverage in parts of the western mountains. However, it does change procedure when lost.
When I was a scout, they taught us to go down the hill, drainage is always at the bottom of the mountain. If you follow drainage, eventually you will come to civilization of some sort. That may not be true in Alaska, or Australia, but generally, it is true.
If you have a cell phone, you want elevation, where you might have coverage.
A GPS receiver tells you where you are on the earth. It gives latitude, longitude and elevation. It works everywhere: in New York, Idaho, Alaska, Mongolia, and Chile. Everywhere. Some will follow your trek and help you retrace your steps. They cost a little more. If you go into the wilderness, it is very useful.
Mine is Garmin, cost right at $100. It works on AA batteries and is little larger than a cell phone. In North Carolina, a person could not be lost with a cell phone and GPS receiver.
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Chas,
So the GPS does not work in conjunction with cell towers or some such thing? Might well be worth investing in, we will look into it. Yes, when people do want to make a call out, they have to hike to the tops of the mountains maybe two or three thousand feet.
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no cell, no microwave
If I move I will ditch the land line and buy a cell.
Great comment Bob.
The lack of land lines among youth may lead to an underestimation of Obama’s support in polls.
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GPS means “Global Positioning System”. It is a system of 24 satellites that give the earth complete coverage of at least three satellites at all times. It was originally, and still is, a Dept of Defense device. However, civilian use is widespread. Many people have them in their cars which, in conjunction with computer maps, will direct them to a predetermined address. I don’t have one of those. Accuracy is very high for military use. It is sufficient (average 5-10 ft for civilian use).
When I was in the Dept. of Geodesy at the Defense Mapping Agency, our department did the satellite tracking for the GPS system. In order for the satellite to give precise positions, the orbit of the satellites have to be determined with high precision. I was not part of that effort, but knew what was happening.
My wife uses her cell phone to call her sisters every weekend. They talk over an hour The technology has made long distance calling equivalent to calling next door. In fact, for my grandaughters, distance is not a function. They talk several times a day.
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My wife and I are about the only 40-somethings in our circle who have ditched the landline in favor of cells. They work fine for our purposes: we can talk to each other anytime without using our minutes, and late evening, weekend, and holiday calls don’t use minutes either, regardless of who you’re calling. Since I rarely have time to call family members except for evenings or weekends, that works wonderfully. Voicemail is included, of course, and I appreciate that incoming phone numbers are captured; sometimes callers leave garbled or blurted numbers on VM, and it’s nice to know what they really meant to say. The downside: coverage can be spotty when traveling. Major metro areas and alongside interstate highways, fine; off the beaten path, not so fine.
About GPS, just remember when shopping that the model you select should have enough features to help you identify where you are, besides latitude and longitude. If you’re out in a wilderness area without a really good map, knowing lat and long isn’t going to do you a bit of good. Chas’ bread crumb trail feature is very helpful; so is the sort of moving map that IDs roads, rivers, radio aerials, settlements, etc.
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I should qualify the above: If you’re out in a wilderness area without a really good map, knowing lat and long isn’t going to do you a bit of good UNLESS you have a cell phone with coverage, so you can tell the 911 operator where you are.
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This is sounding more and more complicated. Right up the lines of the telescope hubby surprised me with on my birthday. My old one died in the many moves and I had not considered getting a new one so it was quite the surprise (beyond that we stopped giving birthday gifts years ago). It is a self guided telescope with aerostar. And a long manual. And a dvd manual supplement. I will wait for one of my grown children to come home before I use it I imagine. I will hand the selection of the GPS off to hubby as well, he is my hero and always comes through on these matters.
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But, if I am out in the wilderness with a really good map, what would be the point of the GPS?
Ah, I see you have answered that, RR.
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Oh, yes, Chas mentioned the “follow your footprints home again” option.
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Thanks for this great idea–TEXT messages sent to my children’s cell phones, like this one sent today:
3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
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