Present In The Presence, Part I
G rowing up my father and mother did not allow distractions at the dinner table. We all sat together and shared in conversation, exchanged a "how was your day," our thoughts, ideas, laughter, etc. With a distraction that now fits perfectly on our person, I will venture to say courtesies are now exchanged out of politeness or in hope of holding on to a time when one could be present in conversation; not constantly engaged in a world that demands instant communication with little communal aspect. I have yet to sit in a restaurant and observe others seated that have not once glanced at a bright screen (guilty as charged, but ever so cautious of the negative effects it can have on the time spent with the person opposite the table). These are not thoughts to bash social media, cell phones, or the like; but thoughts of being actively present. I find myself thinking back over the past three weeks as a family member endured a sickness and how present she was (understandably more...
