Rushing Headlong Into the 20th Century

   The other day we received a letter from our friends at AT&T that shook up our quiet world. The gist is as follows:

   "You have an old cell phone. Technology has expanded to such an extent that we can no longer accommodate that older era. To make it easier on you to adapt, we will give you a newer generation phone, for free. By December 2016, you will not be able to use that older phone. If you desire cell service, you will have to have the upgrade."

   So, what is a body to do?

   We went to the AT&T store and found out what they would do for us. Without going in to the whole scenario about models, plans, monthly fees (because this post is more about getting up to date), we got a new phone, a new plan and a new carrier.

   We actually got a newer model phone, and saved money on out monthly bill.

   Now we can get better coverage, we still get unlimited phone service with nationwide long distance, and we have the ability to text.

   Somewhere I read that we can even use something called Bluetooth, using the flip phone to connect with a device in our car so that we can be "hands free" when driving and calling. Amazing!

   What is the world coming to?

   Texting is a fantastic way to communicate with others, and I hear that there are devices out there that are called "Smart phones", that may allow us to connect with the Internet. That technology may be too much for us.

   We may have to wait till the 21st century to get into that.

   If we manage to live that long…

   And our thumbs don't get sore.

   But for right now, we are just reveling in being so "up to date".

   So, for any of you seniors out there who are still on the old land line, just text me at 912-399-1230, and I'll get back to you when I figure out all the buttons.

 

A Breath of Fresh Air

   After watching the Rio Olympic Games last evening,

    I woke up with one picture in my mind.

   One the NBC telecast, after the Women's 4x400 relay won the gold medal, there was a live shot of this relay team in a huddle praying together.

   I could not find that particular shot on the Internet this morning, but I could still see it. It seemed to me that it was a rare shot on a national TV broadcast, as you could see the lips of Alison Felix as she led the group and the reactions of the ladies as they finished with a hearty "Amen".

   Perhaps I am reading too much into this, but it seems as though I remembered a lot of praying going on by individuals and teams, and many instances of athletes giving glory to God and Jesus, and those included both winners and losers.

   It was a breath of fresh air and one that refreshed me.

   That is what I will take from these games.

Am I Really Old?

   Well, I know the chronological answer to that question; Sure, I am.

   Maybe I am talking about "old fashioned", do I fit that mold?

   If I am stuck in the TV generation of Andy Griffith or Leave it to Beaver, does that make me old?

   What if I might still be scandalized by Gone With the Wind, and Rhett's line to Scarlet, "frankly, Scarlet, I don't give a ...."?

   How about if my favorite movies would be Casablanca or The Music Man?

   What if some of my favorite photos are of old buildings?

   All of the above are true for me, but does that show that I am truly old or just have a hankering for an older morality and a more simple time, at least in entertainment?

   I thought of all those things as I walked early this morning.

   I admit that I am disturbed by the excessive number of times on TV and in the current generation of movies that are put out there for my entertainment, that the writers go for the "four letter" words to express what they want to get across.

   And there are the many instances of graphic violence and graphic sex, is that necessarily good?

   Yesterday, in our down time, Mayre and I watched a movie streamed on the Internet. The movie, The Ultimate Gift, was good. The acting was good, and the message was also, but I am not plugging the movie, as such, but the website that made it available.

   I had noticed some ads on Internet sites for a new movie subscription service with the name "Pure Flix". Their ads drew me in with a "free" month of viewing, so I signed up, and so far I have been impressed with what we have watched.

   Being able to sit down and watch movies and shows without having to be constantly ready to cringe and flip the dial or turn off the whole thing, is worth a lot to me. I might even take up the monthly charge (about equal to the price of one movie ticket, even for a senior) when my free month runs out.

   If all of the above makes me "old" I guess I am.

I Want To Pray, But What..

   For the past few weeks, especially since the Republican and Democratic Conventions, I have felt the need to pray for our country.

   It looks like we have got ourselves into a colossal mess.

   The Republicans have nominated what could amount to a disaster, for them and for the country.

   The Democrats have nominated a deeply flawed candidate, with possibly the same outcome.

   The Public trusts neither one.

   Moral and Character issues abound.

   I need to choose and I need to vote, but how and on what basis.

   Is there a way to pray, because from God comes the only answer?

   I would like to cloister myself behind one of these windows, in a quiet pew, and pray.

   But what to pray for?

   Then I think..

   A simple prayer that is the answer...

   "Thy Will Be Done"

No Shortcuts...

   In the dark of an early morning, I looked out the back door.

   It reminded me of one of the last things I had seen the previous evening before sleep overtook me. That image was the Olympic pool as Katie Ledecky won the 400 meter freestyle race in world record time.

   Olympic athletes don't just happen into victories such as this. There is so much to do to prepare; all those early morning swimming sessions, all those early meets as they are growing up, that single minded purpose, and that sacrifice of time and effort to be their best.

    It all comes down to wanting to be the best at what you do, although wanting to be the best does not always mean doing your best. A person may not ever be the best in the world at what they do, but they can always do their best.

   I notice on the TV screen the finish of a particular race. There are 8 spots on that graphic, three of which are medal spots, gold, silver and bronze, and there are also 5 more spots for the folks in that final that did not medal. Which of those did their best?

   It may be safe to say, but in that situation it would be a very high probability that they all did. Not only those 8, but also those who had been eliminated in the previous heats of that Olympiad, and not only those Olympic athletes, but those who had not made the team from their country. All of these were good swimmers, good enough to try out, but they did not make it out of the trials. Even though they did not win gold, they could, and would, be winners because they were willing to do their best.

   They may have some momentary regret because they did not go all the way to the top, but they will never regret having put it all on the line, the best they had.

   Back in the last century, when I was coaching high school boys and girls running cross country, one of the training techniques used was the multiple running of a set loop around a course. Runners would begin at one spot, run the loop, come back to the start and continue the same loop for as many times as the exercise called for. Doing it well called for mental toughness as well as physical endurance.

   There were those at times whose aim was to see how little they could do. They could walk the course when out of sight of the coaches, or they could even hide back there and join the group on the next lap, thereby skipping a whole lap.

   They liked the accolades that came with finishing well in a race, but were unwilling to always do their best when no one could see. Those same accolades did not hold up over time, even in their own minds, but they were too shortsighted to see or know that fact.

   The opportunity to do our best is not limited to sports, it is there in our daily lives with family, work, friends, church and wherever else we find ourselves.

   We can all be winners when we do our best, regardless of the scoreboard, but there can be a lifelong regret of what could have been, if only we had.

   It's our choice, but..

   There are No Shortcuts

Readers Come Forth..

   Mayre and I have always liked to read. Over the past couple of years, she has been less inclined to read herself, and so I have begun reading out loud. She can still enjoy the stories without the hassle of doing it on her own.

   It is one of our special things to do.

   We have gone through 18 books of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and 12 books of the Maise Dobbs series over the past months.

   But now we are looking for something to continue this habit.

   Surely there must be some of you all out there who might have suggestions for us.

   Either individual books, or a series that a couple of old people can enjoy.

   Any help or suggestions will be appreciated.