One of the best parts about cell phones is the ability to be connected without having to be tethered. I remember when talking on the phone in privacy meant having a really long phone cord that would reach from the family room into my bedroom. Now, though, cell phones give us the opportunity to take a call, send a text, snap a picture or do whatever we want wherever we want.
My phone, however, hasn’t brought me that kind of freedom for a long time. Instead my phone is like a ball and chain.
My phone has been on its last leg for months now. After less than a year of owning my iPhone 6, I noticed that the battery wasn’t holding a charge as well as it once had. It continued to get worse until I finally made an appointment at the Apple Store. My “genius” told me that my battery was bad and that I could replace it for $80. I opted to forgo the battery replacement and instead started carrying a charger with me wherever I went.
I have multiple chargers around my house.
I have a charger in my car and in Alycia’s car.
I have portable chargers, without which I never leave my house.
The freedom cell phones were supposed to offer has been exchanged for the constant fear that my phone is going to die mid-tweet or mid-conversation.
All that was supposed to change yesterday, though, when my brand new jet black iPhone 7 Plus was delivered. I ordered the phone back in October, knowing that the jet black versions were back ordered. For weeks I waited to get the email notifying me that my phone had shipped. Last week I received that notification and a delivery date of December 6, 2016.
All day yesterday I kept tracking the status of my phone, hoping to see the greatest word in any language: “Delivered.” That word never came and neither did my phone. Instead I received notification that my phone had been delayed. If “delivered” is the greatest word in the universe, then “delayed “ is its upside down. I wish my phone had been eaten by the demogorgon, at least then I could mourn it properly.
Instead I’m left waiting, reminded of my own impatience and dangerous desire for material goods. I thought more about my phone yesterday than anything else. I can’t remember having a significant thought about God and the only reason I spent time with Clara was because I didn’t have a new phone to play with.
It’s not wrong to have a new phone. I need a new phone and we saved money to buy a new one. When we allow any material object or piece of technology to completely fill our thoughts, though, we need to be a little wary. If I’m this obsessed with a phone I don’t even have yet, how bad is it going to be when I get home from work today hopefully with a package waiting for me?
I know that I’m susceptible to obsessing over technology. When it comes down to it, that’s what being a nerd is all about: obsession. We need to learn how to temper those obsessions, though. Jesus told us that we can’t serve both God and money. We should apply that great advice to more than just money. Whatever we obsess about: phones, Star Wars, clothes or anything else, should never become our master.
While my phone often died, it didn’t die for me. God, however, sent his son to die for me. So if I’m going to serve one or the other, I might as well serve God; he won’t ever run out of battery and I don’t have to worry about having a headphone jack to hear him.
How do you temper your nerdy obsessions?
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