HANDS OFF!

HANDS OFF!
Monday, October 26, 2020 by Leona Choy

A Fresh Slice of Daily Bread

I confess that although I've written and published many books, I'm not really computer savvy. I started out in my twenties with an upright Underwood manual typewriter on which I had to pull the carriage return to start each new line. I find it hard to keep up with the sophisticated technology and new generations of software in my latter season of life.

Nevertheless, I'm happy to use it all, since it is provided for me—just as I drive my car without knowing or understanding what’s under the hood. I never had any “driving instruction” in computer basics. I write by the seat of my pants and rely mainly on my sons and grandchildren to "come show me how to do this." More than occasionally, I find myself in over my head.

Rather than falling deeper into the quagmire, which I am made to think I have somehow caused, I call on my webmaster son Rick, the installer and maintainer of all my hardware and software systems. I plead, “Please come rescue me! I'm in a muddle big time!” In my impatience, I want Rick to come immediately to deliver me.

He assures me he will come “in the fullness of his time.” Sometimes he doesn't even have to come to my writing studio in person. He is able to help me from wherever he is, at work or elsewhere.

First, he lovingly chastises me for being careless in managing my computer documents and failing to follow his instructions, or God forbid, I have done something that made me think I “completely lost” some vital information. I dutifully confess and acknowledge my carelessness, ignorance and probable wrongdoing.

Then he tells me to sit back in my computer chair, keep my hands off the keyboard, and trust him to handle the problem. Sir, yes sir—glad to do it!

I gaze in awe and wonder at the monitor display while the pointer moves here and there as if by magic searching for the elusive solution. It looks as if it is probing deep into the invisible-to-me squiggly brain and heart and core of my computer where the “language” is not intelligible to me. All without my interference! All from a distance controlled by someone unseen, someone wiser and more capable than me, someone whom I trust with my welfare who is working for my good. Always, “in the fullness of time,” the trouble-shooting mission is accomplished! Sigh of relief, gratitude expressed, and a second chance (or third or fourth or tenth chance) for a new beginning.

Applying this to my life, mistakes, errors, faults, foolish actions, foul-ups and sins are not limited to any one season of my life. In my advanced years I'm supposed to have accumulated some wisdom. Nevertheless, I'm as prone now as I was in my youth to make unwise judgments and wrong decisions.

I'm still learning that if I try to fix or solve some of my self-caused dilemmas, I dig myself in still deeper and create a worse mess. I end up in despair. At times I have been afraid that my circumstances were unfixable.

David the king and psalmist was always getting into major muddles. I echo his distress. I also have to “call unto the Lord in my distress” (Psalm 18:6) with the result that “He rescues me.” “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). I admit my need and inability. I confess my impatience to be rescued. “But I am afflicted and needy; hasten to me, O God! Thou art my help and deliverer; O Lord, do not delay” (Psalm 70:5).

“In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid” (Psalm 56:4). The Lord who is all-wise, whom I can't see, tells me (after I own my wrongdoing) to relax and let Him work on my behalf. I lean back and gratefully watch Him take over for me.

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Comments

Linda Ann Fumea From Florida At 10/28/2020 8:13:30 AM

Cute !! Thank You Lord for Rick !! Again, God provides for us saints to help us along the way.

Reply by: Leona Choy

Rick as my first-born is the one I lean on as the "fixer" since my husband went to heaven. But back then most of this tech stuff had not been invented yet--amazing to think how recently we have grown dependent on all the "devices."

Portia Merriweather From Richmond, VA At 10/28/2020 8:13:04 AM

As always, Leona, you have expressed what so many of us feel about this computer age! Also, the image of your son coming to get you out of the "muddle" and then our LORD doing the same, made me smile. What a great picture of of being helped and delivered from all our troubles by our loving LORD.

Reply by: Leona Choy

Some of us are inclined to be "controllers" and this puts us in our humble place of being willing to accept help. That has to be learned as it becomes more necessary with the aging package.

Dot From Dan At 10/27/2020 6:54:33 AM

Is it not a wonderful thing to have been blessed by a son who can show us God's love, competence, and care?

Reply by: Leona Choy

Dot, forgive the interruption to our phone conversation on 10/30 am. with someone at the door needing attention and I couldn't get back to you. Sorry. I loved that we had a good chat ear-to-ear. You are a special nonagenarian friend. May God's face shine upon you and be gracious unto you as you lean into God for daily strength.

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