When I was a girl, my Dad served as bodyguard to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. One of the perks was that my sister and I got an occasional ride in the official limousine. Once inside the stretched out car, we were enamored with the latest in 1970’s technology. Automatic door locks and windows. Such luxuries were unheard of in our family’s Dodge Dart. The limo even had a window that could be raised and lowered between the front and back seats.
The highlight of our limousine rides was the enviable avocado green phone mounted to the hump in the back floorboard. The idea of being able to make a phone call from a car was the ultimate enticement to two little girls who knew nothing of such innovations…well unless you count our six foot long living room stereo on which we played our Charley Pride eight-track tapes! Those were the days. How I longed, begged, pleaded and wished to press the avocado colored buttons to make just one phone call to tell someone, anyone that I was doing so while riding in a car.
Phones in cars no longer avocado green or mounted on the hump, and buttons are no longer necessary. Touch screen technology may be the latest greatest, but I still have two favorite technology “buttons.”
You Deserve a Break
The pause button earns a place among my two techie faves because life is busy and being able to press “pause” at will just sounds nice. Pressing “pause” on life is a good idea. The pause button brings peace. It allows me to control the pace. The momentary hiatus affords time for reflection, and whatever I’ve paused picks back up right where I left it. Nothing lost and moments gained. Love it.
My personal “pause” button takes on several forms. A good long conversation…face to face…no texting allowed. A creative outlet. Writing. Reading. Cooking. Taking a walk. Taking a nap. (Gasp)! I’ve found that pressing life’s “pause” button is not easy. Rest is hard work. But so worth it. And so essential that God Himself took a day off. (Gen. 2:2) He must have enjoyed His day of rest because He followed it up by commanding rest for His people, their livestock and even the dirt in their fields. (Ex. 23:12; Lev. 24:4-5)
God’s repeated commands and example of rest is a sure sign that rest doesn’t just happen. We have to press pause, and I like Rick Warren’s advice on how to do so best of all…Divert Daily…Withdraw Weekly…Abandon Annually.
Can I have a Do Over?
Another of my favorite buttons to press on the array of gadgets that fills my home is “Undo.” When I first discovered that I could undo just about anything on my computer, life was forever changed. Technology with forgiveness…what a concept!
Do you know what this realization does for me? It makes me less afraid. Knowing that I can “undo” a slip of the finger or a misplaced click of the mouse enables me to carry on without fearing that I might destroy my work. Only then am I able to really explore and learn and grow.
My mistakes have a reply. Undo. This may very well be the best bit of technology ever invented. It’s also the best spiritual reality as well. God invented the ultimate “undo” by offering forgiveness through Christ’s all encompassing sacrifice on the cross. This changes everything. His death cancels out my errors. His offer of redemption reverses the curse of my failures. Where I’d have inadvertently pressed “delete,” He offers restoration of all that was lost.
Do you know what this realization does for me? It makes me less afraid. Knowing that I can “undo” a slip of the tongue or a misplaced intention enables me to carry on without fearing that I might destroy my life. Only then am I able to really explore and learn and grow. Sound familiar?
My failures and flaws have a reply, and the Bible begins to sound like a computer programmer when explaining the “undo” offered to us.
“…He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Col. 2:14-15)
Eight-track tapes and avocado green car phones are a thing of the past, but the Ancient of Days is as new as Apple’s latest. God offers us the ultimate in progress: pause and undo. There’s not a touch screen, blue ray or HD contraption in all the world that can compare.
Have you ever erased something on paper, or marked something with a pen – then wished you could UNDO it? What if you could press Ctrl+C on one computer, then Ctrl+V on another – as if the data was held in your hand instead of the hard drive? Thank Goodness that PAUSE and UNDO never need an upgrade, never crash, and don’t lose our work without saving!
PS – we played Johnny Cash 8-tracks on our 6′ stereo, and Elvis! And Anita Bryant!
Can you believe those enormous stereos have been reduced to to the size of an ipod? In the words from Napoleon Dynamite, “I love technology!” Especially buttons that teach us how to live.
Hey Karen,
I LOVED reading your writing on The Ancient of Days…
So good.
I’m glad you are doing well, sounds like you have healed up really well.
Love Liz
I’m so glad to know you are reading! God really has been so gracious. I’m feeling good and back in action…the pause button has been lifted!
Karen,
Your post is awesome again!!! Keep them coming!!! I am so glad I get to have face to face with you! And this morning your face was the highlight of my morning at church! You know I’m all about gadgets but face to face is truly the best. I long for the face to face with our Lord one day!!!
Love ya,
Hi Karen: Being a lover of mystery and suspense novels I was intrigued to hear that your dad was a bodyguard to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It conjures up scenes and images from the novels that I’m sure have little basis in real life. lol.
Pause, taking time out is something I’ve had to learn and it is in the “pause” that my soul is once again refreshed and renewed.
Undo, such a priceless gift.
God is always current, never a power failure to worry about. He is always online.
love it.
Maria, I’m not sure my Dad ever had any real intrigue in that job, but it does at least sound adventurous! Thanks for reading and for staying in touch!