And just like that, it happens again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s this simple thing that happens frequently to most of us\u2026 sometimes daily, maybe more often weekly. Just a common occurrence. But yet, it\u2019s one that\u2019s long had me thinking. Let\u2019s see if we can make this work\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re on our cell phone, having what is hopefully a delightful conversation, interacting with said person of choice. And then just like that \u2014 in the middle of what may even be mid-sentence, perhaps in the middle of unveiling a striking thought, profound revelation or simply deep conversation, the call drops.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCall failed\u201d is the typical, bland screen response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So somebody pulls the trigger, dialing back, so the conversation can resume, and that\u2019s the spot that has me thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d says one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Assuming no button was inadvertently tapped) \u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d says the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019d you <\/em>do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019m standing in a spot I typically stand in. My cell service says it\u2019s strong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a brief analysis of why the call dropped, the striking thoughts and profound revelations continue. But what prompts my wonder is that analysis, the attempt to determine why what happened happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If I didn\u2019t push a button and am calling from a place I typically talk without incident, I automatically assume the reason for the call failure is the full responsibility of the other person. In other words, if I wasn\u2019t knowingly responsible, I assume the other is completely responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I assign responsibility fully to another. And\u2026 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I assume I am 100% correct in my conclusion.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of that, I never again reflect upon whether I had any responsibility or how I may have contributed to the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therein lies the zillion dollar question, friends\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where else in our search for an immediate answer, do we assume another is fully responsible because we are unaware of any self contribution?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where else, too, do I assign a conclusion to something that might not actually have one \u2014 meaning, we are incapable of discerning an answer; we can\u2019t figure it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think of the many who have published popular books who embrace the tactic of the binary choice. \u201cIf you\u2019re not this, then you must be this.\u201d<\/em> It\u2019s a choice between solely two alternatives, and if you\u2019re not one, then you must<\/em> be the other. Sorry. But I find this to be incredibly faulty logic; it\u2019s simply a way to explain away what we don\u2019t understand. We need to be wise enough to acknowledge that we cannot comprehend all; we aren\u2019t capable; and we error in self-awareness when we think we are so capable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the record, according to CommunityPhone.org,<\/em> there are four primary reasons for phone calls being dropped: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, for the record, we can\u2019t always tell which one it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" And just like that, it happens again. There\u2019s this simple thing that happens frequently to most of us\u2026 sometimes daily, maybe more often weekly. Just a common occurrence. But yet, it\u2019s one that\u2019s long had me thinking. Let\u2019s see if we can make this work\u2026 We\u2019re on our cell phone, having what is hopefully a … <\/p>\n\n