Smart phones are all the rage these days. You literally can't go anywhere without seeing someone updating facebook, tweeting or checking email on his/her smart phone. Nor can you find a cool "non-smart" (aka dumb) phone when it comes time to get your "new every two"...if you are a Verizon customer.
Patrick and I have gone back and forth about whether we are going to go Smart or keep things simple and no matter how long the discussion might be we always come back to simple living. Here are the top reasons why the Mitchell House is not a Smart House:
1. It's an AddictionMost (not all) of our Smart friends seem to be totally addicted to being connected at all times. So much so that it's hard to even have dinner with friends without them taking out their phone(s) for one reason or another.
2. We're UnavailableI don't want to be available to you (or you, or you) 24/7. Nor, do I want my pastor husband to be available to you (or you, or you) 24/7. Boundaries people. A lot of people claim "it won't happen to me." You think that you won't be one of the addicts who has to look at the phone every time an email/FB message comes, but you will. No one can escape it.
3. Wherever You Are, Be All ThereA great quote from Jim Elliott that still rings conviction in my life after all these years. Yes, this can point back to reason #1, but how many times have you been in a conversation with someone and they get distracted with some form of technology and maintaining their cyber-relationships??!!! It is SO rude! Seriously, I have found that the more time I get distracted with maintaining my facebook, twitter relationships, the less time I seem to have for the people I'm actually around every day of my life. Maybe that's why I'm blogging so little...but probably not.
4. I'll Let YOU PayLet's be honest, data packages are ridiculously expensive. I remember when my entire phone bill was as much as your data package alone. For a generation that is so worried about saving the kids in Africa, we sure spend a large (dare I say sinful) amount of money on entertainment, media and technology. Am I saying that having a data package is a sin....um...NO. But I AM saying that it's freakin' expensive and as long as everyone around me is willing to pay for it I'm just going to borrow your phone if I'm ever out and absolutely have to get to the internet. Thanks in advance for your kindness.