Where's Your Attention?

This morning I had to reset the notification tone for the calendar on my cell phone.  Why?  Well, since the tone was the same as my default notification tone (which I typically ignore), I was missing the events on my calendar because by the time I checked my phone, it was too late or the event had passed.  Unlike most people, I don't pull out my phone every time it makes a sound, .  Phone call?  Sure, I'll answer. . . most of the time.  Text message?  I get to a stopping place in my current task, then check those.  E-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc?  As far as I'm concerned, they can wait.  I'll get to it when I get to it.  This works for me, but some people look at me like I've lost my mind.

"You had a notification on your phone," they say.

"I know," I reply.

"Well, aren't you going to check it?"

"Later, when I have the time."

The look of horror that passes across their faces is unmistakable, not to mention humorous.  These are the same people who are seldom seen without their phone in their hands and/or earphones stuffed in their ears.  They spend time all day long checking e-mail, text messages, Facebook statuses and the like.  It's like an addiction.  When the phone sounds, they respond--and quickly!

It makes me wonder what this world would be like if we all responded to God's promptings the same way or even if we spent the same amount of time with Him as we do with our phones.  Instead of checking Facebook statuses, we check out some of God's promises.  Instead of texting back and forth with a friend in the next room, we spend time in prayer with our Heavenly Father.  And as we do with our phones, what about if we stopped everything and gave God our undivided attention every time He spoke?  It's quite a thought, isn't it?

Technology is great--at least, when it's working properly.  But it can also be a trap.  It can make us busier than ever.  It can steal time from our families and, more importantly, from God.  It can distract us from those things that are truly important, sidetracking our priorities.  Let's be careful not to allow it (or anything else) to become an idol in our lives.  God is God alone, and He deserves our time and attention.

 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. - Exodus 20:3