On my first day in Athi River, I left my cell phone in my hotel room. I had turned off the wireless on it, and you’d be amazed at the battery life. I haven’t charged it in four days, and the charge is only half gone. We’re using it in the room for an alarm.
So, I was standing outside of the church and I thought I heard it ringing. As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve had the same ringer for over a year now and am psychologically tuned to it. Every now and then I will hear my phone ring even when it doesn’t. At least once per day, I will reach down and look at my phone, certain it had sounded, only to see a dark ring.
It has not happened since that first day and I wonder if I am being weaned off that supposed lifeline.
In America, the sound and substance is deafening. Here in Africa, people will stop and sit by the road and just think. No earphones hanging down. No Blackberry at the ready. No rush to get home for 24, coupled with the comfort of knowing that if they make it home late, it will be waiting on their DVR.
Even without my cell phone here, I am still plugged in, needless to say as you are reading this as I am still in Africa.
I recently read an article that parallels these thoughts at Credenda Agenda.
Sometimes we drown out silence because we truly enjoy things that benefit us, but other times, we distract ourselves simply out of habit. It has become a drug for us that has side effects that I believe phanton rings are among the least adverse.
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