In a world that is full of gadgets and gizmos that help us stay in touch, we have become a fragmented society. Very rarely do you ever have a conversation with someone without being interrupted by the outside world. I love how we are able to stay in touch with one another. Because of technology, almost anyone is available to you at the touch of a button. We can be constantly connected to each other, which is really cool, but also with famous athletes, movie stars, authors, and politicians. It is awesome that we are able to communicate with people we will probably never be fortunate enough to meet in person. It is equally as awesome that friends are always available.

Even though communication technology is extremely captivating, it definitely has huge negative consequences. We are never fully present anymore. I am amazed that we think it is okay to tweet or check our facebook while we are supposedly engaging in relationship with the people we are around. Its like we are saying to the people we are with, “You are important enough for my full attention until someone else comes knocking on my virtual door.” I know we don’t mean that, and we certainly don’t say that, but we cannot be fully present in two places (ie. in physical conversation and virtual communication) at the same time.

A few days ago, I was hanging out with my wife and checking my twitter account. She said something to me and I completely ignored her. My thinking was that I would finish checking what my fellow tweeters had to say and then I would re-engage in conversation with her. Don’t tell her I actually thought that:). Later on, as I was reflecting on my day, I realized that the tweets of friends that I could read at any time, were more important than giving my wife my undivided attention at that moment. To be honest, this realization really frightened me. I was overwhelmingly bothered by the fact that what was on the screen of my phone was more important than listening to my wife.

So in light of this, I have made a commitment. I am going to do my best to ignore my cell phone in meetings or conversations. I am going to try to do only one thing at a time. I am going to offer my undivided attention to whatever task is before me.

I know that this isn’t going to be easy and that at times I am going to fail. Just last night I was talking to some teens and I got a text on my phone and I read it. The other day I allowed my phone to interrupt a meeting. I am sure that some distraction will sidetrack me today and most-likely tomorrow as well. But now that I am aware of this struggle, I am going to do my best to overcome it. I at least owe that much to myself, my friends and family, and to my God.

So here’s to you social networking devices. You are being downgraded to the trunk. Relationships and the tasks at hand will be the only things in the car with me. I promise to check in with you from time to time to make sure everything is okay, but never again at the cost of being fully present.