Oh Perfume of Freedom!

“Diego you need a cell phone. Next time when you come abroad, make sure you have a cell phone.” It was the statement of the week, made by one German classmate in broken Italian, obviously.  Really? Was the only thing I could think. I just nod like approving the sentence and to end the discussion. However, what my classmate did not is that I completely disagree with her.  It has been three weeks without a cell phone and I love it! I don’t think I will make an effort on having one here. It is real, pure and sophisticated freedom what I am experiencing without one; sweet smell of detachment.

What prompted the statement was the difficulty that, apparently, a group of students will have on finding me among the crowds in Piazza del Campo. The plan was to be together and enjoy the festivities of Il Palio di Siena over the long weekend ahead of us. Siena is in festa,  the Assumption of Mary is the excuse and there are not classes on Monday. Things have worked out well so far without a cell phone. It has made me more punctual and organized with time and plans. Nevertheless, I asked to myself questions like: How was life before cell phones?   How did people get together before and find each other? How one did pick up someone at the airport without a cell phone?  What did you do if you got a flat tire on the road? Those are just funny questions. Funny because we all know that we did not need cell phones to live and the questions sound like if we depend on cell phones for living. But it seems like we do. In fact, a full charged battery is one considerably increasing basic human need today, almost close to water.

But don’t get me wrong. I recognize that I have not established a social life, relationships or work here yet that will demand the “need” of a cell phone. Also I recognize, of course, the advantages of cell phones today and how easy life is because of the service they give us. With all technology and sciences, we should marvel on our capacity to invent things for the benefit of humanity. So, the point being here is to evaluate our use of cell phones, rather than to condemn them.

First of all, let’s define what a cell phone is and what it does. A cell phone is a device of instant communication among people. It gives us the convenience of getting quick and prompt answers to our questions or requests. We love them because instantaneity is the best thing we ever can experience.   Therefore, cell phones also carry out our emotions faster. Just think on the last time you stared at your phone full of frustration because the other doesn’t answer, or doesn’t call you back, or simple doesn’t reply to your text message. What about the phantom ringing or vibration. How many times have you heard your phone ringing or feel its vibration when in fact it did not? These are experiences that go beyond the basic service of the phone: to shorter distances for people to have a conversation about an important issue to be resolved at the moment.  

There is a need of connection among us, that’s true. The Lord wants us together and connected to Him and to each other. But the connection that cell phones give us involves certain addictive symptoms. Although we are still far away for the medical sciences to officially define addiction to cell phones, the characteristics of the behaviors we adopt when we are far away or with no access to the phone, are very similar to those of any recognized addictions. There is anxiety and nervousness. There is fear and loss of control. There is frustration even to the point of depression. That’s how the enemy takes advantage of us with something useful bringing us to a point of destruction. The addiction per se is not to the device itself but to what it does to me. It makes me feel important and popular. It develops stronger in me the illusion that the whole world should care about me. Also I dare to say that a ringing phone in Mass is the devil among us. There, the enemy accomplishes what he loves the best: to interrupt our prayer and break our connection to God.

A cell phone is a very useful thing, yes indeed! Yet, it is not essential for living. No having one here has made me appreciate more my only and true dependence on God alone. It is real, pure, sophisticated freedom; freedom from one less attachment. By going to celebrate Mass at the Sanctuary of Saint Catherine of Siena, I have felt how much her testimony has challenged me in a great deal. I feel so far away from my goal. But it is through little things like detachment from a cell phone how we get trained for heaven. We only can see the face of God when we have a free and total, undivided, whole heart for Him. But, it feels too much else in my heart still.

Fabulus view from the bench in the park where I sit in the afternoons to repeat Italian words like a parrot.

Front of the Society Dante Aligheri, the Italian language school

Inner court yard of the school.

Piazza del Campo is getting ready for the festivities of Il Palio this weekend. Barracaides, benches and the race track have been temporaly built.

A good street view, coming back from school to my room

This is Via della Sapienza, where we live in Siena

Friday's full moon night in Piazza del Campo