When Did I Get So Nosy?

By Kathy Pollard

While on the zero turn mower, Neal’s phone slipped out of his pocket and bit the dust. So the next day (Sunday) we spent ALL afternoon at T-Mobile. While waiting, I found myself listening in on conversations, observing the manager and sales associates, and even discovering the key code to the “employees only” room. I would share these various things with Neal.

“Hey, I can get us in that back room. I know what the code is!”

“They ordered 2 pepperoni pizzas for lunch. Our guy is missing out because this is taking so long.”

“Ha, did you hear what that lady said…”

Neal finally raised an eyebrow at me and said, “You’re really into this, aren’t you?” I just shrugged but did start to wonder why I was blatantly eavesdropping and not minding my own business.

It didn’t take long before it dawned on me. I didn’t have my phone. The guy helping us had both of our phones in his possession. If I’d had my phone during such a long wait, I would’ve found something to work on, or answered messages, or simply trolled. The boredom felt foreign to me and I didn’t know what to do. I’d already been through everything in my purse to pass the time (hand lotion, chapstick, gum). The only thing left was to pay attention to the people around me.

As we finally got up to leave, I told one of the other associates (who goes by Shaq but answers the phone as Shaquille), “I feel like we’re friends!” I’d joked around with him a couple of times while we were there. Without even hesitating, he said, “We are!” I walked out the door laughing.

I have a feeling if I’d been on my phone the whole time, I would’ve walked out the door grumbling about how we lost an entire Sunday afternoon. I’m quick to point out how important it is to quit staring down at our phones and start looking up at the people around us, but apparently not so good about living it out. It was a humbling and eye-opening experience. How often do I do that? How much LIFE is passing me by while I “work” on a screen? There are real people all around me and it is way more worthwhile (and joyful!) to see and engage with them.

“Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.“

(John 4:35)

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