I spent a good part of today traveling the air and the airport. I was struck how many people have their heads looking downward into their smart phones. As I stood in line in Grand Rapids, I decided to try to make eye contact with as many people as I could. My hope was to invite eyes and smiles!
It was a fun challenge and realized that it also kept my eyes up and kept me grinning. People were very responsive and I was discerning if I felt it was appropriate to initiate. (for those who feared that I may have been obnoxious.)
I have become more aware of this even as I bike. How easy it is to pass people by. Each morning I say Good Morning or hello or how are you? Almost every time I receive a greeting back.
I sometimes feel a sense of panic in my gut when I consider what texting and Facebook is going to create in a generation of people who are communicating more while looking into a screen than looking into people’s eyes. Today was fun as I passed people by, sat in chairs next to them, waited for luggage or rode the escalator. I did not go into full-blown conversations….just a simple hello, or how are you?
It was a fun experiment and reminded me again that I was created for relationship.
May I be one who is faithful to take the first step, make eye contact and smile!
