As I sat waiting in the Doctor’s surgery this week, I noticed that the lady sitting opposite with her adult daughter, had on the most amazing shoes they looked so stylish but comfortable as well. The material they were made from looked like a collage of pastel Easter Egg foils, like we used in foil collages at school many decades ago.
I smiled at her & said how I loved her shoes, she was surprised & thanked me. The physician called her daughter into his office as we continued our chat, she even got up & sat in the chair next to me so she could hear our conversation better over the background noise of the clinic.
It was a lovely chat…but before we go any further let’s grab a cuppa, treat & get comfy. I thought I’d have a Lady Grey tea with a slice of gf Banana & Coconut loaf today.
Chance Encounters
Just before I went to this medical appointment my husband & I had a conversation about what we had just noticed with people in the Mall that day, everyone sitting in the seated areas were on their smart phones, no one was interacting with each other, no one!
We have noticed this more & more. Years ago people would have little friendly chats with strangers while waiting for appointments, buses or standing in line at the Supermarket but they just don’t anymore because they focus on their digital phones.
We live in a little seaside village here on the east coast of Australia where people say good morning or afternoon to each other with a smile when passing in the street whether we know them or not. We know when visitors are from the city as they look down not engaging eye contact & look either surprised or fearful when we greet them.
So yesterday’s little chat was refreshing, while it wasn’t long before I too was called into the physician’s rooms for my appointment it was ever so sweet sharing in this lady’s concerns for her daughter’s medical condition.
Interaction is Important
Why is interaction important? Interaction gives us a chance to hear another’s story or to share our story that may be an encouragement. You see often people will share concerns or their story with a stranger when they won’t share with even their closest of friends. Why?
Because they need to share the burden of their concern & may feel, for whatever reason, they can’t with the people they love. Thus by listening to another’s story or sharing what God has done in your life not only gives a blessing but is a blessing, in other words a burden shared.
Share in carrying one another’s burdens, in this way you are reflecting the ways of Jesus the Messiah… Gal 6:2 Paraphrased
Sadly in today’s world, as mentioned above in the example in the Mall, people are not ineracting with each other not just on a community level but you see this in families, relationships & friendships. So many are sitting at tables together, on digital devices & not interacting with each other.
And often when visiting or meeting up with people they are constantly checking their phones for messages, or instantly reaching for their mobile phone when a message sounds, instead of focusing upon the person right in front of them. I’ve even witnessed this in Prayer meetings!
What does this mean?
From a professional perspective what I’m observing is a fear of missing out (aka FOMO) that has reached new & frightening heights, an addictive behaviour en masse. And it seems many are not only addicted to this pattern of behaviour but also digital devices.
It means something is terribly wrong in our communities when people, young & old, stop ineracting with each other & stare at digital screens when out & about. To me its as though a thief is stealing & destroying an important aspect of our humanity – quality face to face interaction & communication – in other words community.
The following verse came to mind;
Jesus said; “The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life–life in all its fullness.” John 10:10 BSB
It’s Easter time & as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, while remembering His great sacrifice on the cross for us, let us not forget that He came that we may have life & life to the full.
Which includes sharing our time with others in meaningful & respectful ways by giving them our full attention.
May you have a blessed time this Easter my friend,
Jennifer
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© 2025 Jennifer M. Ross, All Rights Reserved. Photo by Edmond Dantès at pexels.com
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Thank you for your intentionality, Jennifer, in connecting with those around you and reminding us to be intentional too. I think Simon Sinek mentioned that when he and his friends get together, they only take one phone for directions, but all the other phones are left at home, so they can have a real visit. Another person has a basket near their front door for people to “drop off” their phones, so they “truly visit” while in their home. I’m sure there are other great ideas for intentional connections without our phones in hand.
Thank you Lisa. Yes, I’ve heard of some of those ideas too. 😊
I agree it’s all about awareness in making those important intentional connections & being in the moment with people as time passes so quickly!
Happy June Jen! Just popping back over to let you know I’ll be featuring your post at my June Sweet Tea & Friends Link Up.
Awww, thank you Paula that is a lovely surprise! 😊
Oh my goodness yes! My thing is family or friend dinners or holiday dinners and everyone’s on their phone. I stay off my phone and talk anyhow hoping to encourage those on their phones to put them down and talk. I miss those nostalgic day’s gone by around the family table complete with aunties uncles and cousins just listening to their stories. I remember the feeling as a kid and teenager that I could sit all day and just listen. Sigh….
Thank you so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend.
xo
I love your strategy Paula!
I remember those days too! This generation are missing so much of the wealth of experience we can share from us oldies.
Jennifer, yes, it’s true about technology. Today, when we arrived at our vacation destination, we noticed, as we walked to dinner, how many people were looking down at their phones. Some couples were, as well. I miss when people would go out, sit together over tea or coffee, and just talk. Just being in the moment. It’s sad what it has become. I hope that you are doing well, and you are in my thoughts. I hope everything works out for you and what you are dealing with medically.
Thank you Stephanie 😊. Have a wonderful holiday & I hope you get to have a chat with some new people while there.
Jennifer, What a great point you are making. I too have notice and been guilty of it at times. We all need to put those darn phones away.
Praying for whatever you have going on medically. May you be healed and comforted by our Lord.
I’m so grateful for your presence in the Grace & Truth Link-Up! Your post stood out, and I’m honored to feature it on my Pinterest board. Take a look here: https://www.pinterest.com/embracingtheune/grace-truth-christian-link-up-featured-posts/.
Maree
Thank you sweet friend, that is an honour. 😊
Jennifer, I see it everywhere. Butch and I can go to a nice restaurant and see couples that do not talk, but stare at their phone. I wish we could go back, but I think it will only get worse. I see children that are 3 and 4 years old staring at screens. Will they even learn to communicate face to face? Thank you, my friend for being willing to call out the elephant in the room!
Wishing you a blessed Easter, sweet friend!
Pam
Yes, it truly is concerning Pam when the ‘conditioning’ starts that early & becomes their ‘norm’ without normal developmental stages having been estabished without digital technology. Concerning indeed!
May you have a blessed Easter too sweet friend 💕
Oh, I completely understand and agree with every single thing you said! It is a burden that weighs heavy on my heart! I hate what technology has done to our society and world. So many young people don’t even know how to communicate, in person. They won’t look you in the eye. They can’t even go a minute without staring at their phone. It is so sickening to see what has happened to our world. I pray God will break through it all one day and bring back normalcy and eliminate people’s dependency on electronics. It seems an impossible thing, but with God all things are possible. I pray for your health and am sorry to hear you needed to have surgery. May God heal and restore all to you and make you well, in Jesus’ name.
Thank you for your prayers 😊
Yes, unfortunately what is really concerning is that these younger generations don’t know what ‘normal’ looks like without digital technology, sadly this has become their ‘norm’.
Indeed all things are possible with God.
And maybe we need to kindly & gently bring this pattern of behaviour to people’s attention, especially the lives that we have some influence in.
I remember a Star Trek show from a looooonnnnnggg time ago (Ashly Judd was in it) before cell phones. People were hooked on a device and it was taking over the ship. It was almost prophetic about what is happening to us today. It takes so much more intentionality to draw people out — and the devices serve as a wall. It drives me nuts when people are in a room, a person’s phone rings, and they take the call – everyone else has to stop talking so they can have their phone conversation. Etiquette designed to make others feel welcome seems to have become obsolete.
I remember that episode Maryleigh! Yes, sadly hospitality etiquette is severely lacking today. And what’s even more concerning is that most people don’t even realise their addicted & have this FOMO pattern of behaviour.
Jennifer, you have made such a needed and powerful point >> “To me its as though a thief is stealing & destroying an important aspect of our humanity – quality face to face interaction & communication …” I have become quite concerned about this. May we give our families, friends, and those we encounter our full attention. We may never know how much they, and we, needed it. Blessings to you!
Thank you Joanne, yes it’s very disturbing indeed. People need people & need to be heard, it’s so important for our spiritual & mental health.
May you have a blessed Easter my friend 😊
We often see the same thing over here. Friends get together to stare at their phones! Libby Larson said, “The great myth of our times is that technology is communication.” People seem to be more “connected” while being so isolated!
Yes, mental health research also shows while this generation is the most technologically connected they’re the loneliest generation with the highest incidence of Depressive disorders. Very sad.