Are You Connected?

I am . . . well, as connected as I'll ever be. Got my new Palm (a Tungsten T2 on eBay at a great price) and now I have my info at my fingertips, no matter where I am. Got my new cell phone (even more free minutes now that it's paid for by my company) complete with earbud for hands-free connectivity! Got my laptop set up with my wireless connection, so no matter where I am in my house, I can be online (and probably in your house too!). Oh yeah, I'm connected! But I'll never be as connected as the next guy, the one who has internet access through his PDA phone, or the one who has a docking station for his laptop set up in his car.

The need to be connected today is ubiquitious, whether it's the need for a better calling plan with more minutes, or quicker access to online information. Today on my way home from work, I panicked as I made call after call to different people, trying unsuccessfully to get through. No, this phone's only 3 months old - it can't be broken, I thought. Even though it appeared to dial the numbers, I couldn't hear a sound - not even the sound of the keypads as I dialed. Whatever would I do without my phone if it had to be sent for repairs? Then I realized I still had the ear piece connected from a previous call! I laughed aloud as I realized how many people I'd called and hung up on over the last few minutes!

If only I had that same drive in my quest for to be connected with God. A few years back, the phrase "plugged in" became a popular term, especially among youth workers, to describe the kind of relationship we all want with God. I know our church is working hard to help members, especially new believers, feel connected. It occurred to me that the Apostle Paul had the right idea which he shared with the Philippians when he encouraged them to "pray without ceasing." Instead of prayer being restricted to short periods of time, we should always be in an attitude of prayer, so that we're comfortable talking to . . . as well as listening . . . to God. I want to be always listening to His voice, open to the Holy Spirit's leading and conviction, and in a habit of sending every little concern up to Him in prayer instead of brooding and fretting about things. I want to be connected where it really matters.

So Much to Blog, So Little Time

I blog mentally all day long. Little things pop into my head and I immediately begin wording my next blog entry. But then oops! That darn phone rings and there's another customer needing something - again! (The nerve of them!) I think I create about 5 blog entries a week but somehow they never find their way to my site. I guess that's why I have yet to have an article published or get that first chapter down on paper . . . it's all in my head. Hmmm, maybe a voice recorder might help?

Miss Expedite

I have a customer at work who calls in three to four times a week, frantically needing something expedited. She talks about 100 miles per hour, and apologizes profusely as she mumbles her way through her list of open purchase orders. It's never her fault .. . it's always the system or some other phantom factor. My partner and I jokingly call her Miss Expedite!

But I got to thinking about this later and I realized I too can be a Miss Expedite at times. How many times do I come running to God with an emergency brought on by my own failure to walk with Him on a daily basis? Of course, God always comes through for me . . . sometimes simply with the assurance of His everlasting presence. I hope Miss Expedite knows we'll always try to come through for her!