A Season of Gratitude - Technology

Greetings Dear Reader,

Sometimes I forget how much the world has changed relative to technology.  In 1973 my parents paid $80 for a calculator that would add, subtract, multiply, and divide.  It also would retain a single number in memory for later inclusion in a problem.  They bought this because it was required for my schooling.   It was the size of a smart phone and twice as thick.  It used four AA batteries and weighted about ninety pounds.

Today my smart phone has a world class graphing calculator app that was free.  It bugs me once a month to upgrade to even more features that I do not understand.  I use this virtual calculator almost daily for figuring things on the go. 

In 1985 I got my first PC.  It had 16k of RAM and two floppy drives.  Today I write this on a machine running an Intel Core i7 with 36 gigs of RAM and 2 internal and 30 attached terabytes of storage.  My aforementioned smart phone has 2 million times the storage that my first PC had.  Yes I used the aforementioned free calculator too calculate the difference.

I have access to the knowledgebase of the world through an internet that is fast, reliable, and powerful.   I can communicate with people all over the globe with a few keystrokes.  I am taught, entertained, and given great convince because of technology.

I must also remember that with great power comes great responsibility.  I am accountable for all that is available to me and how I use it.  I am thankful for the tools and convenience of technology.   I cannot imagine doing all of this with stone knives and bearskins. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Already and the not yet – Digital Dissatisfaction

Greetings Dear Reader,

Next month I am due for a new phone at a low price.  In trying to decide which phone I want to acquire it occurred to me how skilled the phone industry is at creating digital dissatisfaction.  My current phone is excellent.  Most of the new ones I have to choose from lack features that I value.

As I ponder this I realize that computers generate this same discontent.  When I transition to my home hardware to the hardware I use at work there is instant desire for more, better, and faster.  The constant spiral of new software and hardware push both in the direction of constant need.

This is a great example of how we fail to embrace the already and abandon it for the not yet.  We live in the constant state of dissatisfaction over what we do not have.  We miss the potential and value of contentment with what we do have.  If I compare the speed and power of this PC to my first one there are light years of advancement to appreciate. 

Whilst most of my life needs to be moving from the already to the not yet, when it comes to contentment it is the opposite.  I must learn to be content with what I have already and not overthink what I do not have.  It is in the moment that I must value and appreciate what I have.  I must avoid the greed inherent in material not yet. 

There will be constant enticement to dissatisfaction with my already have.  In the case of possessions I must not allow dissatisfaction to push me to greed and obsession with passion.  It only causes me to gather things that weigh me down and hinder my following.

Loose Ends – Dan Fogelberg

Climbing a mountain in darkness

Stranded alone on the ledge

Every attempt that I make to hold on

Pushes me nearer the edge

Sensing the changes impending

My thoughts are diffused by despair

I feel like I'm swimming straight up underwater

Desperately racing for air

I'm racing for air

And the chords struck at birth grow more distant

Yet, we strike them again and again

And we plead and we pray for a glimmer of day

As the night folds its wings and descends

Exposing the loose ends

Surrounding myself with possessions

I surely have more than I need

I don't know if this is justice hard earned

Or simply a matter of greed

A matter of greed

And the chords struck at birth grow more distant

Yet, we strike them again and again

And we plead and we pray for a glimmer of day

As the night folds its wings and descends

Exposing the loose ends)

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Home to House – Arranging Things - Technology

Greetings Dear Reader,

Any move requires that one arrange and redirect things.  I arranged my internet connection over a month ago.  I am transitioning providers and so needed to arrange equipment pickup at the former house.

The company explained that they would pick up the equipment but that they would not give a specific time.  I needed to take the day off to do some other things so this was not an issue.  I left a note on the door for the technician explaining that I was at home and that he should come in.

He arrived at 10:00 in the morning and collected the gear.  I went about my day knowing that this piece of the business was concluded.  I checked it off the list and moved on to the next task of the day.

Earlier this week I received a bill from this former provider as my final bill.  A letter accompanied it expressing how sorrowful they were to lose my business.  The bill included $560 in charges for un-returned equipment.   I will need to spend time this week setting the vendor on the right path.

The lesson is that even when we do everything correctly there will be issues.  No matter how good our intentions and actions there will be challenges.  It is the way of the world.  My responsibility is to respond properly.  

I must quell the visceral response to see all those who work for the provider as plague ridden vermin.  They are all humans whom God loves.  I must love them too.  Someone simply made an error.  I must then remember that when I deal with the people on the phone, no matter who difficult they are that they have to deal with jerks (even more people that God loves) all day long.

My perspective must be that this thing too is arranged.  I know I will not have to pay the extra funds.  I must not let my anger or fear control me.  I have an opportunity to be kind to a stranger in a difficult circumstance.  That is indeed what I am designed for and equipped to do.  He must increase and I must decrease.

Less of Me – Glen Campbell

Let me be a little kinder. Let me be a little blinder.

To the faults of those about me, let me praise a little more.

Let me be, when I am weary, just a little bit more cheery.

Think a little more of others and a little less of me.

Let me be a little braver when temptation bids me waver.

Let me strive a little harder to be all that I should be.

Let me be a little meeker with the brother that is weaker.

Let me think more of my neighbor and a little less of me.

Let me be, when I am weary, just a little bit more cheery.

Let me serve a little better those that I am striving for.

Let me be a little meeker with the brother that is weaker

Think a little more of others and a little less of me.

Think a little more of others and a little less of me.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)