I went to Applebees for lunch. Got their Oriental Chicken Salad. Sitting in the next booth were a young couple, he in a business suit, she in bluejeans. My expert analysis: husband and wife, he was free for lunch, they got together. Then he got a phone call on his cell. I noticed, because he was talking louder than normal. Everyone talks a little bit louder than normal on a cell phone. It's annoying, sticks out like a rhino in a phone booth.

He talked for probably 15 minutes, stuff about mortgages mostly. Meanwhile, the poor gal (I kept glancing her way) sat there bored, looking into the air, probably wondering why she gave up part of her day to be with her husband, when he let a phone call push her aside. I felt sorry for her. And I wondered about the ways I let work or personal projects or websurfing or blog-writing push aside time with my own wife.

Not to mention the fact that I'll allow just about anything, no matter how trivial, derail time with God.