I've been back in Sydney for a month and a half now. 45 days, for which I haven't had a mobile phone. The reactions from people have been quite varied. At best, the person expresses surprise but doesn't say much. They probably think I'm retarded (they might be right). The most striking responses are from people who seem offended by me, as if having no phone is akin to me making fun of their mother. Not only offended, they are also quite outspoken in trying to persuade me to get a mobile phone.

I have my reasons for not having a phone. But honestly, they're not that convincing. I'm sure many people will read what my thoughts and think me an idiot. I can't blame them. The truth is, I'm throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Over the past year, I spend a lot of time thinking about what it means to be faithful. God is faithful, and I'm called to be faithful. But what does that mean? As I look at the way that we relate to one another, its striking that we are far from faithful. We agree to meet at 3 but we make no make little effort to be there at the time agreed. Too often, people don't show up to things they say they will. There has been many times I've not done, what I would say I would do. Our words have ceased to hold meaning. Their not trustworthy.

On top of being unfaithful, we're also noncommital. Its what Generation Y are infamous for. With the wealth of opportunities before us, we don't want to commit to anything in case we miss something better. I first heard this a few years ago and thought it was a harsh assessment of the generation of which I am a part of. I now realise it to be a sad reality.

Why is Generation Y like this? The problem lies in a dirty little C-word: convenience. Convenience is defined as: "suited to your comfort or purpose or needs" or from wikipedia: "anything that is intended to save resources......frustration". Technology is convenient. It suits our comforts, our purposes and our needs. It saves us from frustration. It helps you to live your live as comfortable, and as burdenless as possible. Why arrive on time when you can let the other know that you're coming late? Why commit to something when you don't have to? Why would you possibly deprive yourself of something better?

Being faithful and committed would be far too inconvenient for us. After a certain point, convenience just becomes plain selfishness. Its far easier to just act in our own convenience as opposed to being commited and faithful to our words.

Now I wouldn't say that technology neccessarily leads to our current predicament. But it certainly doesn't help. If one intends on budgeting and saving money, getting a credit card isin't neccessarily going to mean that one goes over budget. The credit card doesn't preclude one from achieving their goals. However, it doesn't lend itself well to that direction. Of course, should the person be responsible and self-disciplined, then such a problem would not exist.

I am intending on being faithful, committed and intentional. This doesn't mean that I need not neccessarily exclude myself from getting a mobile. However, the problem is exactly that I am not responsible and self-disciplined. I don't like to commit to things until all other options are exhausted. I like to optimise my time towards my maximum utility. Getting a mobile isin't going to prevent me from changing, but it certainly won't help.

You pay for what you get!

I stumbled across this article while doing some research on busking.

Its taken from http://thewishingwellband.com/food-for-thought/one-busker%E2%80%99s-story/

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November 8th, 2009
Many of you have met us somewhere along way busking outside a train station, in a mall, outside of a church and we found this story about a very talented violinist and wanted to share it with you:
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

Joshua Bell playing incognito
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made…. How many other things are we missing?