I see us waiting…..for the bus, the boat, our coffee, our turn with the doctor….
head down, palm up - in an almost prayer-like posture.…
to a persistent God.
This Diety sucks us in. Glues us to itself. Holds our souls.
Connects us…. to what?
more news?
friends' and family’s needs?
work demands?
schedules?
time chunks?
music to soothe us?
movies to entertain us?
podcast info?
rants?
feuds?
laughs?
tears?
Certainly not, it would seem, to those waiting alongside us,
or….
to ourselves.
Is this the new public hiding place? The replacement for books, magazines or newspapers….but with endless articles, titles, and features …. so you never ever need even look up? (Unless….oh my…. the battery goes dead….and the coveted spots in the coffee shop or airport where outlets live, are taken).
I suppose it might seem a bit predatory these days to simply sit and look…or people watch.
Is this our new safe space? A place where we can be alone? Where nothing is asked of us? No one awaits our response or our smile or our opinion or our action….
unless we choose to engage?
Perhaps this Diety… this Force with whom we are spending so much of our day is benevolent….. protecting the shy teen from the angst of not being included in the circle of conversation next to them. Lovingly providing needed relief to the introvert who has had enough of the party…or assurance to the socialite who needs to hear frequent pings.
Perhaps ….
And while we wait with our head bowed down to this "God" in our palm, does another Force wait for us
to leave the competition in our coat pocket or purse…and spend time…
in silence,
in emptiness,
in noticing,
in breathing,
in conversation,
in wonder,
and yes, in rants, feuds, laughter and tears….
In simple Connection…
with others…
and with ourselves?
