“iContact” {More Than Fine}

[Andrew] brought him to Jesus, Jesus looked at him and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). John 1:42

I blame it on the cell phone. I really do.

I noticed it first on college campuses. Students walking to class, backpacks on, heads down, their attention buried in their handheld device. Passing people in herds, but never once looking up at those walking by.

Later we had to enforce a “no cell phone” rule set in our Thursday night CRU meetings. Encouraging students to stay engaged by simply shutting down their phones.

Later the movie theaters started announcing “Turn Cell Phones Off” during trailers. The police had to enforce it while driving.

But I never once thought it would need to be enforced… in my marriage.

Brent’s words were seasoned with salt. Full of grace. Not harsh or condemning. But he had to say them, nonetheless.

“I feel you are so distracted by your phone lately. It’s like you are listening, but you don’t hear me. You listen but don’t look up.”

Busted. I guess I thought I had him fooled…giving all of the “I’m listening to you” queues. An empathetic head nod. An occasional furrowed brow of understanding. An appropriate, “mmm” at times.

But I wasn’t looking at my husband.

I want so badly to blame it on my cell phone, claiming that Facebook makes me do it. But the fault is all mine.

Brent and my boys now have opponents for my attention. They must wear full pads and play tackle with Instagram, WordPress, Email, Pinterest and texting.

I listen, but I don’t look, distracted and busy with my attention buried in my handheld device.

Jesus looked at him and said, “So you are Simon the son of John?” John 1:42

Looked (emblepō) to turn one’s eyes on. to consider. having one’s mind on.

Jesus was 100% where ever he was. He looked when He talked to his disciples, He looked when he healed the bleeding woman, when He looked when He spoke with the Pharisees, when He looked at the children He pulled up to his lap… He turned His eyes up them.

And when I pray, crying out to my Lord for my children and grandmother and budget and church and country…. He looks at me, too.

Completely undistracted.

And He is looking at you, as well. Considering each prayer your utter. For your children and family and budget… His eyes are on you as you cry out for your marriage to be {more than fine}.

He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. Job 36:7

The Lord does not take his eyes off of us. The Creator of iContact.

I want Brent to know I hear him and that he is important to me. And one simple way of expressing this is through genuine eye contact.

Today, make a point to put the phone down, look at your spouse and embrace the single-mindedness of Christ.

Lord, forgive me for living so distracted. I want my spouse to know how important their words are to me. Let me be mindful and 100% where ever I am. Strengthen my marriage today through active listening and intentional eye contact. In Jesus Name, Amen.