The world is divided into….so step into this narrative wherever you fit. I am a child of the early 20th century and lived in a small town. General news arrived by a morning and evening paper. Various size radios and some phonographs were the entertainment. If an appointment was required for anything, you dialed the appropriate number, called the receptionist by her name (she either went to your church or shopped at the same grocery store) and stated what you needed. She said, “Let me see?” to the sound of flipping pages. The answers were either come on in now or what about next Tuesday. A decision was made, a pencil scraped to write it down, and both of you moved on to other things until the moment of appearing arrived. At some point, the date and time was written on a card to be thumbtacked to a bulletin board unless it was lost in the shuffle. You remembered a little late and called. You might be told to come on. Mrs. Lincoln can wait a bit and all was ok. A big mistake and you just started over with an apology and a new appointment. No extra charge and no group seemed to go out of business.
Moving toward the 21 century and the imperceptible take over of technology. Instead of your writing info on a calendar, some of you entered it on your phone which beeped up reminders of what was in your future. Then multiples of people must have quit paying attention because a forgetting to appear began to carry a financial punishment. Starting weeks ahead if necessary, everything from a haircut to a surgical procedure is delivered to your e-mail or text and requires a response that you have been called to attention of the commitment. In some cases, affirmation requires a portal and a password to perform the asked for reply. Last week one message was so garbled, I called a phone number. After explaining twice and holding back tears, the voice on the other end said, (These are exact words.) “I found the request and verified receipt manually. This matter is taken care of.” I grabbed a cold Root Beer and went to bed.
May this have been tongue in cheek enough to generate a little humor. After a four appointment week, I needed to name what I accomplish by my own consideration of its importance. For years, I got my family up and off in four different directions just by routine and dent of effort. Yes, I did hear, “When are we going to eat?” yet no one starved or was ever malnourished. I meet my own exercise requirements, make my bed, and tend the yard. And I pray over my day. That command once given has never been revoked. I don’t know the whole setting; however, this verse speaks to having responsible bootstraps.
Arise, for it is your task….Be strong and do it!
Ezra 10: 4
Let Me Tell Ya 