I was reading yesterday afternoon in RELEVANT Magazine a little paragraph on snobbery. Apparently, a recent study by some pshychologists at San Diego State University has found that college students today are 30 percent more into themselves than college students 24 years ago. The professor leading the study says that “people exhibiting this self-centered attitude are more likely to have short relationships and practice infidelity, dishonesty and even violence.” He also believes that recent trends like MySpace and YouTube have helped to encourage this attitude of “It’s all about me.”

I haven’t done any scientific study on the matter, but I definitely believe that we live in a culture that finds it difficult to look outside of one’s own little world. After hearing stories of prom, parents, potential colleges and future mates from one of my seniors, I relayed to one of my girlfriends that it’s extremely challenging to live as a teenager today with an other’s first mindset, much less a life that bows to the authority of Christ. It’s all about “Pick me, choose me, love me!” (in the words of Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy). How am I going to get noticed? How am I going to feel? How am I going to succeed? And if IT (whatever it may be) doesn’t benefit me the way I see fit, I don’t want any part of it. No wonder we’re growing up lazy people with poor work ethic, seeing relationships (both romantic and platonic) fizzle due to lack of excitement, and find it hard to trust people’s authenticity! MySpace is all about getting the most “friends,” whether you really have a true relationship with them or not (just focus on getting the highest number), YouTube’s theme is “Broadcast Yourself,” and then there are these silly blogs that are a platform to share personal thoughts, stories, and opinions to immediate friends, family, and the world.

So how do we break down these narcissistic walls to begin fully delighting in the Lord (Psalm 37:4), working with all our hearts as working for the Lord and not men (Colossians 3:23), putting to DEATH whatever belongs to our selfish nature (Colossians 3:1-10), and clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, thankfulness, wisdom, and love (Colossians 3:12-17)? Choose to be backwards from the ideas of the world! It doesn’t mean you can’t love technology and embrace the newest trends… but, for heaven’s sake… there’s more going on than just YOU! (A phrase commonly heard by me from my mother as I continue to grow up.)

Well, it’s been a couple of weeks, and much has happened. Things in the office have been crazy (yeah, I’m not really sure when they’re not)… we just seem to always have one thing after another. But, no worries, it keeps us from being bored, for sure.

I left last Thursday for Colorado. It was a trip to meet Tony’s mom. I was pretty excited - the farthest west I’d been was LasVegas for a family vacation when I was in high school. It was a big trip for sure! We went bowling, watched movies, looked at old family pictures, and on Saturday, went to the Rocky Mountain National Park. It was such a gorgeous day, and such fantastic surroundings… I mean, come one… it’s the Rocky Mountains! Well, the four of us (Tony, his mom, Ron, and I) went on a little nature walk with a waterfall, and while waiting on his mom and Ron to return from exploring, Tony asked me to marry him! It’s still surreal even now, but I’m totally excited. The best thing he said was that he was really happy for me. Happy that I had found someone who really cared for me and to spend the rest of my life with. And, he was happy for himself that he is that guy.

Well, now, I’m home, and this is the first time in three days I’ve been able to sit up longer than 30 minutes without wincing from pain or turning white from nausea. (So sorry if anything doesn’t make sense.) And… by the way… has left me wondering yet again… where does so much snot come from??  I’m sure I’ve been through a box of tissues a day since Sunday.  It would have been more if I were awake more.  People keep saying I must be allergic to diamonds. Haha. I’ve been to the doctor and gotten some major pills that seem to be helping. Not really sure what’s wrong with me, but I sure can’t remember the last time I was this sick. My mom came up yesterday and stayed through the night with me and has taken care of me today. She’s been great, as always. So, I guess the moral of the story is… you NEVER outgrow your mom… even after you get an adult job, buy a house, and even are on the horizon of marriage. Thanks, mom!

At the first of March, I lost my cell phone.  I immediately suspended use so that if anyone found the phone, they couldn’t use it, and then began the quest of getting a replacement.  I won’t even go into the headache it caused, but we’ll just say that it took me a full week to get a new phone despite three calls to Verizon and two trips to the store.  Every employee was nice, but only the last was helpful.  He told me that it wasn’t even Verizon who would replace the phone, but Asurion, the insurance company, and he gave me their number.  Finally, I was glad to have a phone and it took several days to reaquire and enter all my friends’ and family’s numbers.  Whew!  Problem resolved.  …Nope…  This week (before even the one month anniversary of this relationship with my new phone), it stops working.  Incoming and outgoing calls were connecting, but no sound could be heard.  So after a one call and visit to Verizon, I’m now awaiting my SECOND replacement phone that is promised to be here no later than Thursday. 

All that to say… I’ve spent several days over the last few weeks in quiet.  It has left me with many moments of not being able to talk to someone about my day- whether to vent, rejoice, or talk about nothing, really.  And what have I realized?  I’m more rested - I’ve had that time to get other things accomplished, or take some time for myself; and I’ve spent more time in prayer.  All those frustrations and celebrations have been directed to the One who gives and restores all.  I’ve rather enjoyed being phone-less.  I met with a girl on Monday who said that her phone is attached to her at all times.  She even works out with it in her hand.  Our students can’t sit through worship without sending or receiving some ultra important text.  Familys and couples can’t go to dinner or walk through the mall without the disruption of a hot new ringtone.  Phones are supposed to help keep us connected, but in the reality of 2007, they work just as hard to DISconnect us.  They replace our time with God for worship and reflection, they interrupt our time with other people, and can often leave us overwhelmed because we can’t find a moment of peace and quiet for ourselves.  Why are we so afraid to leave them alone, or (heaven forbid) just turn them off for a while?  I mean, at one point in history, people lived just fine without them!  So why have we adopted them as an extremity we can’t live without?  Don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means bashing cell phones or any other communication technology.  I just think it’s time to give our cell phones some rest periodically.  And therein find some peace for ourselves, true quality time with others, and a little restoration to our prayer lives.