I got a new phone this weekend. As much as I loved my tiny little Zoolander phone, it really was past its prime. I realized that my trouble understanding virtually anyone I was talking to was probably not always a problem on the other end. So Jeff and I stopped by the AT&T store on Friday night and picked out my new toy.

Seeing as how my old phone isn't even in circulation anymore, the vowel keys were all worn off and the clarity of sound was completely messed up, it didn't seem prudent to try and sell it. So when Bradley asked me if he could have it, I thoughtlessly said, "Sure." He's been begging for a cell phone lately, and since that is not happening, I thought he would enjoy having it. I was sure the novelty would quickly wear off.

Two days later I am about to pull each one of my hairs out individually. The kid is driving me insane asking questions about the phone. Since all of the menu options are still there, he thinks he has the ability to text, send e-mail and get on the Internet, even though I didn't even have those last two capabilities when it was activated. No matter how many times I have tried to tell him that none of those things work, he is still confident that he'll be able to send me one of the 4,392 pictures he's taken since gaining ownership. It is maddening. He can't understand that what he holds is an empty shell which is not connected to any network. So no matter how many numbers he puts in, no call is going to go through.

And I got to thinking about how many people are like this. They are trying so hard to make their lives work, trying to push all of the right buttons and select as many menu options as possible. But the problem is not in their effort, but in the lack of connectivity. My church has had a real emphasis towards being connected over the past couple of years, and it really is a great illustration of what we are supposed to do as believers. Our job is to show people who are unconnected where the source of power really is.

God put us here for two reasons. The first one is to have relationship with Him. This is the most important. We are to love Him, worship Him, praise Him with all we have within us. The second reason is to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. That means showing people the way to true abundant life. If they don't know Jesus, we're supposed to introduce them. If they are believers who have gotten bogged down in the trappings of this world, we're supposed to remind them of what they're missing and encourage and love them back into the fold. It's pretty simple, actually.

But how many times do we temper what we are thinking based on where we think the person we're speaking with is spiritually? If I don't think you are a believer, will I alter my advice because I don't want to offend you or suggest that my way of thinking is somehow superior to yours? Or should I offer you the Prince of Peace, who is big enough to cover anything you may be going through?

Or if I know that at one time the ways of Christ were important to you, but for whatever reason you have left that behind, should I shrug my shoulders and absent-mindedly think what a shame it is, leaving you to wallow around in the pit, hoping that someone will come by who actually cares about you enough to offer some help? Or could the story of the Good Samaritan possibly have been meant for more than felt boards?

I recently had a discussion with my Bible study group about this topic because Facebook has created a strange sort of phenomenon where we are able to connect with people we haven't talked to for a while, often for many years. Sometimes people that we knew as straight are now proudly proclaiming themselves to be gay. Or people whose wedding we attended right out of college are now single. And some people are still exactly the same as they were in high school, which is in itself a sort of tragedy. I've been challenged recently to not just let this stuff go. Why not acknowledge the change and ask to hear their story? Open up a dialogue and see where it leads. Most people are willing to talk about themselves if they think you really want to listen.

So why not listen? Build relationship. Let them see what it is they are missing. Then show them where to find it. No activation charge or connectivity fee required.