A few years back I snapped my flip-phone in half and tossed it into the Mississippi. It was one of the most liberating decisions I’d made, and felt so much more focused and content afterwards.  Once my wife got pregnant though, I found myself with another cellular shackle.

“What if something happens?” was the main argument.

Years later I’ve never used it for an emergency. Its always just to call home and see if we need 2% or skim, or what movie to get from the video store.

So I gave it up again.  Inadvertently. It bounced out of the double-wide stroller one morning while taking the girls to school. That was over two months ago, and I’m feeling that beautiful liberation again.

I don’t have to read jokes via text. No spontaneous calls or chit-chat. Just direct calls to my home phone. Its nice because it deters people from phoning unless there is some substance or purpose for the call.

Some may call me a troglodyte, but I love it. I absolutely love it…

It comes back to patience. The unknown benefits of self-denial.  We don’t need to reach whoever we want, whenever we want to. And how arrogant of us to think so! So many of us get upset when someone doesn’t answer our call or text within minutes.

Instant Gratification is just that. Instant. Unlasting. It teaches us nothing about patience and reward.

I remember growing up in the 1980′s — calling friends houses, leaving messages with their parents, hoping that they’d get the note and call me before they left for the night. I missed out on sleep-overs. Movies. Dates. It was excruciating and frustrating. “These darned kids today” don’t know what its like to miss out on a party because you weren’t home in time to get the call! Ha. It may sound petty and minuscule, but there were many lessons to be had.

And what about fathers being able to screen calls from young suitors? Perhaps being able to reach your daughter anytime of the night or monitor her location via GPS is a good trade-off. But then again, what about the freedom these teenagers lose out on? The tests and trials they would have to overcome through their own wit and resourcefulness?

So much safety, so much convenience, so much DISTRACTION.

Sure, cell phones are good for some people. But we need to be on our own sometimes.

The solitude can be so peaceful.

So maybe we just need to keep it in the glove compartment for awhile.