Have you ever wanted to be in your own world? No distractions, no demands, no one else’s expectations? Just you, doing and thinking whatever you want. If so, I know the feeling.
It’s an easy trap to fall into. We throw on our headphones, tune out the world, and tell ourselves, “This is me time.” There’s a place for privacy, sure, but sometimes that mindset can blind us to what’s actually occurring around us.
That truth hit me hard the other day—and in a sauna, of all places.
The Sauna Soundtrack
I go to one of those “super gyms.” You know the type. They have a sauna, red light therapy, and all the bells and whistles. (I am still waiting for them to install the smoothie bar, but hey, one can dream.)
I had just wrapped up my workout for the day, and I decided to spend some time in the sauna. Their infrared sauna is not a huge room—maybe big enough for eight people, if you crammed.
That evening, there were just two of us enjoying the space: me, and another woman sitting across the way.
As I stepped inside the sauna, I noticed that there was music playing. But the odd thing was, there weren’t any speakers built into that room. It was just wood paneling, and definitely no sound system.
And then, I noticed the woman across the way. She was wearing massive, DJ-quality headphones. They were wireless, beautiful, and probably quite expensive. Honestly, they looked like the exact kind of thing I would want for my next flight!
But here’s the problem…
They weren’t connected to her phone.
The bluetooth was off. The music she was hearing was playing out loud.
And she had no idea it was happening.
For the next twenty minutes, I sat silently in the sauna, listening to each and every video on her TikTok feed. I learned some new recipes, I became an expert on hair treatments, and I even discovered a few dance trends along the way.
At first, I thought about saying something. Should I tell her? I wondered to myself. But then I thought—what’s the point? It’s only twenty minutes of my life. Who cares! I’ll survive.
Still, I couldn’t help but chuckle at how unaware she was. She was completely oblivious to the fact that her music was not coming through her headphones, but literally through her headphones—the ones that were broken, out of battery, or otherwise out of service.
And as I sat there sweating, I realized—this is me. This is us.
In focusing on ourselves, we so often forget about others.
Spiritual Soundproofing
That moment became a mirror for me. How often was I walking through life with my headphones on? How often was “me time” to the detriment of others?
Paul wrote about this in Philippians 2:3–4, saying:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
But that goes against everything our culture teaches, doesn’t it? The world says, Protect your space. Set your boundaries. Put on your oxygen mask first. And yes, there’s still wisdom in following FAA regulations, but when our self-protection becomes self-preoccupation, we have missed the point entirely.
And just to be fair, this woman in the sauna was not being rude to me, she truly didn’t realize what was going on. Her unawareness wasn’t malicious—it was human. But that’s the point! Paul is calling us into a deeper, more Christ-like reality. He is calling us to see the needs of others and value them above our own.
The Challenge
So here’s my challenge to you this week: Take a look at your life and ask, “Where am I wearing headphones right now? What are the areas of my life where I have elevated my own wants, needs, boundaries, etc. above those of the people around me?”
Maybe it’s at work. Maybe it’s at home. Maybe it’s in that conversation you keep avoiding. Ask yourself:
- How can I put someone else’s interests before my own?
- How can I serve when it would be easier to sit back?
- How can I look like Jesus today?
Because true joy doesn’t come from isolation—it comes in the service of others.
Blessings,
