Did They Call

Written by Wanda Rodriguez

Written: April 17, 2026

Published: April 17, 2026

Wake up.  Check the phone.  Did they call?

Go to the gym.  Check the phone.  Did they call?

Climb into bed.  Check the phone. Did they call?

Go to work.  Run errands.  Make dinner. Visit with friends.  Pick up the kids. Go to church…

Check the phone. Did they call?

Go to sleep thinking about it.  Wake up thinking about it.

Always on my mind

Always checking

Always at the surface

Always distracted

wondering …

DID.  THEY.  CALL.

All too often, this is me.  Distracted by the actions, or inactions, of others.  Whether or not they call, text, or respond to something I sent or posted.  Why does it matter?  Why do I invest so much time and attention in wondering what someone else might have done?  Why do these thoughts so easily rise to the surface and hijack my attention?  Why do I pick up my phone “just to look” like it is a life-or-death message I am waiting on?  Why do I allow this device to rob me of being present?  I do not have a reasonable explanation for these questions.  It’s my understanding that we get a minute hit of dopamine when we see a reply that keeps us coming back for another emotional kick.   Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and hormone produced in our brains that helps regulate motivation, pleasure, and mood.  But what happens when there is no reply?  From my understanding, I do not believe that it reduces the levels of dopamine in our brains, but it can certainly lead to feeling depressed or frustrated and adversely redirect focus from tasks at hand.  Low levels of dopamine can naturally lead to reduced motivation, fatigue, mood swings, and poor concentration.  So, it makes sense that we might find ways to give that dopamine level a little jolt now and then, but at what cost?

It seems to me that you are looking at an endless loop with this approach.  Let’s say you wake focused and motivated about plans for the day ahead.  You are up and moving forward but first, you stop to check your messages.  Two things could happen here, the first might look like this, “Yes!  Hurray!”  There’s a message.  Joy!  (Cue dopamine!) You put your tasks on hold to respond, believing that you will get right back on it after sending. With a little spring in your step, you return to work, finding excuses for frequent checks on more replies. You find yourself growing increasingly frustrated, distracted and far less productive than originally anticipated.  Unbeknownst to the person you are waiting on, your feelings of frustration may unjustly extend to them. 

The second scenario would be that there is no message when you first check.  It’s momentarily annoying but it does not prevent you from returning to work.  Still, you find excuses to continue with periodic checks.  The cycle of distractions and frustrations continues.  Productivity drops. (No dopamine hit here!)

I am guilty of falling victim to this cycle.  Modern phones are a blessing and a curse.  It allows you to stay in touch with people, to gather and to share information, to shop, to learn, to play and so much more.   It is an amazing piece of technology! Alongside these countless gifts, however, there are countless distractions that dwell within this tiny device.  They are almost always available and accessible. This can easily interfere with our sleep, our views, and our productivity. 

When I woke up today, I first thanked God for the gift of another beautiful day and for all of the blessings ahead while simultaneously reaching for my phone to check messages wondering, “Did they call?”  Wait, what!?  Why was my attention divided?  My eyes were barely open and there I was, giving God a quick nod (obligatory?) and promptly diving in for a dopamine hit to help launch (or trip up) my day.  Why?  Perhaps it is out of habit, the convenience of immediate gratification (or frustration, as the case may be) or simple task avoidance.  It could be any of this and more, but one thing is clear, my priorities are definitely off center!  (Understatement!!)

The veils seemed to be lifted from my eyes in a moment of clarity.  I wouldn’t say God convicted me here as much as He gently comforted me.  Providing guidance and reassurance God seemed to be telling me….

I call to you

I send messages to you

I have written to you (the Bible)

I am here with you

I am a wealth of knowledge and information

I will guide and comfort you

I am always available

I am always accessible

I am your blessing, as you are mine

I am love

and

I am all you need

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 NIV - 

¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.