2 Meetings

11 Phone Calls

51 Text Messages

I’m sure that for many people these numbers aren’t very impressive. For me, it’s usually exciting just to get one text message or even a phone call. It’s a chance to take a break from whatever I’m doing and let my mind focus on something else.

Today, I felt like I couldn’t get away from it all and needed to stay around the house. Calls to confirm upcoming appointments, discuss billing, schedule appointments, arrange for payments, discuss why Suzanne’s account is marked as closed (don’t tell her I got that call), make another payment. Do you sense a trend here?

Then all the text messages, asking for Names, amounts, phone numbers, and just letting you know they know how to get to you. Do you have . . . . ? Is . . . . on your schedule? Did you get the . . . I sent? The kicker was when I got the call that ‘Such & such’ is going to give you a call. Seriously? A call just to tell me someone is going to call?

I can’t even remember how this all worked 33 years ago. No cell phones to track you down every minute of the day; No computer account portals to see every document, bill, and event during your care; Dr’s had little pagers that went off and they would hurry away; Nurses listened for their name over a speaker to know where to go next; and husbands would sit quietly for hours next to the patient waiting.

Somehow, all the numbers add up to something we already know, we allow technology to run our lives. It’s hard to even imagine a day without that little device somewhere nearby, listening for the ‘bing’ or ‘bip’ or ‘toodoo’. Then racing to see who it is that wants your attention.

Beginning August 31st, two people get my full attention; the one looking down on me and the one sitting next to me.

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
Proverbs 4:25-27