Too Stupid?

Ethical Dilemmas of the Mobile Phone.

Number 1


Standing in the gents a mobile/cell phone rings in one of the cubicles. A few words are exchanged followed by a crash and an expletive. The phone slides out under the door. From within comes the plaintive cry: "Is there anyone out there? Could you pass me my phone?"

Do you?

a - Very quietly sneak out of the toilet pretending you heard and saw nothing.

b - Kick the phone back under the door without getting embroiled in any conversation.

c - Flush the phone down the toilet in the adjacent cubicle.

Number 2


Sitting in a cafe. An older gentleman has a new mobile phone on his table, box and instructions open. He is experimenting and looks happy. He finds the button to test different ring tones. When the phone rings he presses the answer button and says "Hello, Hello". After this happens 4 times he looks at you and says "They keep hanging up - do you think its a crank caller?"

Do you?

a - Say "Yes it is a crank caller, and if you like I could help you discover who it is".

b - Offer to look at the instructions with him. "There is probably a simple explanation".

c - Press the test ringtone button on your own phone. When it rings answer it, listen for a moment, turn to the man and say "It's for you".

Number 3


You are at the gym. The girl on the treadmil in the row diagonally to your right is jogging along happily. She is holding her phone in her hand, texting while she jogs. This is impressive multi-tasking way beyond my abilities. (but then I AM a man). She drops her phone, she is still moving but the phone shoots off the back of the teadmill and hits the ledge. She bends down to get the phone, which has long gone from the treadmill, she stops moving and is dumped off the back of the treadmill beside her phone.

Do you

a - Laugh uproariously to the extent that you fall off your own treadmill in sympathy.

b - Ignore her and continue impassively as if nothing has happened even though this is really very funny and more fun than most things you see at a gym.

c - Rush over to press the stop button on her treadmill and check that she is ok.


Yes all these things have happened to me in the last ten days. Yes I was starting to wonder if cell phones should come with a government warning. Yes I did choose one of the options and yes I did consider the other two. No I am not going to tell you which one.

What I will tell you is that on each occasion it went through my head "this person is too stupid to be helped". Which, on reflection, is the problem that God has with me all the time.


Thank you Lord that you watch over our comings and goings. Thank you are involved in the intricacies of our lives. Thank you that you care about the big stuff and the small stuff. Thank you that you do not laugh at us but do laugh with us.

Help us when we do dumb things and help us to help others as we would mostly like them to help us. (although just occasionally if no one notices when we trip in the street that would be good too).

Be with us in our driving, our shopping, our sport, our eating and drinking, our friendships, our parenting and our working; for in such activities is discipleship lived out, faith expressed and worship offered. Thank you for your forgiveness, patience and grace to us.

You are rich in mercy and abounding in love.