Thought for Today
Psalm 55:6 And I say, "O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; 7 truly, I would flee far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
Isaiah 21:1 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.
Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,
I am angry at my computer! Periodically, my computer becomes ‘crotchety’ (google it, it’s a real word). This week it has balked several times, most notably Monday evening when we tried to have our Bible Study via Zoom. My ‘IT’ department is currently unavailable, so, in desperation, soon after I finish this and send it wafting into the electronic ether, I am going off the grid for a brief respite.
Is it possible today to go completely off the grid? That does seem to be a staple of many crime dramas and spy shows, but I cannot imagine how one could completely divorce oneself from all of our modern electronic devices. I will power down my computer. I may even unplug my computer . . . just to show this machine who is really the boss. But, of course, if I do so, I am only trying to fool myself. Truthfully, turning my computer off seems in some way a modern example of one of my mother’s favorite accusations, “You’re only cutting off your nose to spite your face!” I was a young child before the birth of the computer age; I never entirely understood Mom’s phrase. Maybe eschewing any computer access for a few days will teach me what that meant.
I’m angry, not completely irrational. I will still have my smart phone, my tablet and will still be tethered to the worldwide web by them both. I will still access all my critical information stored in the cloud. But, for a few, short days, I will let my keyboard lie fallow.
For most of us, trying to completely go off the grid is risible to the point of unbelievability. Yet, retreating into the wilderness was a staple of life for our ancestors-in-the-faith, including for Jesus. The wilderness was a metaphor for the unknown, for the ability to isolate oneself from all of the distractions of life. The wilderness was a place where the issues of staying alive transcended the distractions of ‘modern’ life.
When Jesus was overwhelmed by the herculean tasks of his mission, he sometimes withdrew to the wilderness or to a mountain top. There he would pray, seek guidance from God and renew his spirit and his commitment. Every time I become overwhelmed with the complexities of our modern, electronic age, I withdraw to some degree. This time, my withdrawal will only involve my computer. I’ll still have access to my email, the internet, and the telephone. I am seeking solace for my frazzled nerves as I sit at my computer. I’m not seeking to become a hermit.
Greta will roll her eyes (literally, not figuratively) as she vets this writing. She knows me far too well to believe that I will maintain my computer isolation very long. She knows that I will continue to think about God, life, our family of faith and all the other issues about which I preach and write. She knows full well that angry or not, irritated or not I always pray to God and seek God’s guidance in pretty much every situation. She also knows my proclivity for slipping into a “I can handle this myself” mode.
I suspect that within a few days, I will plug my computer back into the wall outlet. I will boot up my computer and I will once again begin writing. But, for a few days, I will take a holiday. I will probably continue to sit in this same chair, stare out at the field behind our home and ponder on the wonders of God’s Creation. Eventually, I will once again succumb to the siren call of writing and sharing my Thoughts. But, for a few days, I will be off the grid (sort of).
Stay safe, stay tuned, trust God,
Pastor Ray