When in the Presence…

There is a Peanuts Comic where Lucy and Linus are getting ready for Church. Lucy asks, “Have you studied your Sunday school lesson?” Linus responds, “I’m working on it. I”m practicing doing three things at once” – he says as he tries to get dressed. “All it takes is balance and coordination of which I happen to have plenty of both!” He continues, “See? I can read the lesson, button my shirt and slip my feet into my shoes all at the same time…” Just as he says this, he slips and falls – shoes and Sunday school lesson all go flying. In the last frame, Lucy says, “Lesson for today.. Second Samuel, First chapter, Verse 19, ‘How the mighty have fallen.’”

In today’s world, we try to multi-task all the more. Our smartphones, ipads, and tablets allow us to connect with friends and colleagues all over the world at any given moment. There is a lot of blessing in this – however, we have to be careful. While it is completely possible to work or socialize online while we’re on vacation or at the dinner table or while hanging out with other friends and family, it can be detrimental to those relationships.

I am constantly reminded that one of the best gifts we can give people that we love is to listen to them. But it is impossible to be present to them and with them if we are at the same time, somewhere else online. There are times when multitasking may work well for us. But no matter how well we think we do it, there are other times for the sake of our relationships, when it may be best to set it aside.

Let us pray: Loving God, we thank you today for the gift of technology. But, even more importantly, we thank you for the gift of family and friends. We know we couldn’t make it for very long in life without them. When in their presence, help us to be present, and to show them our love by our attention. Amen.