Who are these people?

Leslie and I went to a symphonic concert at Bass Performance Hall (home of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra) for my birthday. The concert featured works from Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Ravel, culminating in Ravel's Bolero, a favorite of ours.

We enjoy going to these concerts to add a little refinement and culture to our lives, in an atmosphere where professional musicians combine with excellent acoustics to provide a truly wonderful experience.

Of course, the fact that the building is designed so that the most delicate note can be heard in the farthest reaches means that the patrons must maintain quietness to keep from spoiling the experience for others.

In spite of directions to this point, and the explicit instructions to silence cell phones, there is always someone who neglects to do this, and this concert was no exception.

To my astonishment, I heard cell phones ringing, and people coughing and talking. Worst of all was the woman sitting behind us who spoke loudly to her friend about what she was hearing.

I was thinking, "Who are these people who cannot follow simple directions in order to be considerate to other people?", especially at an event such as a symphony? Then my own cell phone began shouting it's answer to my question!

You see, when I set an alarm on my phone, it still sounds even when my phone is on "silent", and about 3/4 of the way through the concert, it reminded me that I needed to call my mother, something I want to be sure to do every week.

So, who are these people? They are people just like me, who intend to do well, but have moments when they fail. People who suffer embarrassment when, in spite of their efforts, come off looking like a buffoon in a very public setting. Furthermore, just like me, they are souls for whom Christ died.

The next time you are tempted to criticize someone for their behavior, remember that you, too, are one of those people. I know I will.