Came across some puppy photos of complicated dog. Can it be that it was all so simple then?? Not so long ago we believed that all that was needed was some decent training and a firm hand then before you know it there's tears at bedtime and a dog psychologist involved - I think we've all been there.
Some one said on the radio the other day that one of the things the advent of computers and email etc has brought is the loss of material, physical mementos. Hadn't thought about it before but she might be right. I mean its nice to have all your photos logged carefully on your computer, taking up no space and all in alphabetical order etc. (At this point I am trying hard not to think of recent incident with daughter clicking on something that released horrific virus which corrupted half the stuff on our computer. What is wrong with these people who make up viruses? What for? Get a job or something!)Anyway - usually things are safely tucked away on the old hard drive but then I wonder. Will our kids ever know the joy of coming across an old shoe box and finding it full of photos of long forgotten holidays or baby's first solid food or a time when I was impossibly thin and attractive (not overloaded in the last category but you get the idea)
It will seem as far in the distant past as rickets soon. My kids have no idea what you are talking about when you tell them about the sticker that used to come back on the photos saying "Quality Control" because you had taken the bloomin thing with your thumb over the lens. Nope, now all photos that do not reproduce the subject perfectly are deleted before they see the light of day.
Then there is email. I love email. I do. I use it all day at work. But is it the same as a card or a note? My bible is full of scraps of paper, cards and letters that people have sent me over the years. Little bits of encouragement - scriptures, poems, prophesy. maybe its just me but can't remember the last time I printed up an email that had that sort of stuff in. And please don't get me going about people posting "love ya loads darlin" on Facebook. Its not the same thing at all. OK?
I remember reading that Adrian Plass kept a record of all the various prayers for various people in long brown envelopes, then he could look back and see what things God had done.
I used to take notes in sermons so I could remember things. Haven't done that for ages. Not since some woman preacher informed us that all serious Christians should be taking notes of what she had to say. My notebook goes straight back in my bag then unfortunately. Go and find someone else to boss around sweetheart. She wasn't as good as she thought she was anyway I seem to remember.
Then there is the bible. My bible when I was a teenager is full of scribbles and notes and lines joining bits to other bits. I don't pretend to understand it after all these years but it is great to look at it and feel the rush of how exciting it all was.
Maybe we are meant to be a bit more "physical" about things. Send letters, write cards, read books, take notes etc. Seem to have a vague recollection of CS Lewis saying that he prayed better on his knees because he was a physical creature and the physical act of worship reflected well on his spiritual life.Makes sense.
Thinking about getting a pencil to go in my bible. See if it helps.
Things I have learned this week..
Calvin and Hobbes is as fresh today as the first time I read it. It may well be God's gift to a jaded world.I am struggling to learn very deep and meaningful things. You maybe need to read Plato or something for that.
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