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by Rhonda RheaMy kids don’t know that people once played solitaire with real cards. When they were teaching me to play computer pinball, they laughed at me when I pounded the enter key to get the ball to go faster. Of course, I laughed right back when I caught one leaning into the turns on his imaginary race track.
The computer is a big part of our kids’ lives. They love the games, they can pick up school assignments and schedules, and a research paper is just a couple of clicks away. (One of my kids finally had to write a paper by hand the other day. He asked me how to do a manual spell-check.)
Me? Sure, I know my way around the computer. Nevermind that the information I’ve garnered in the past decade my kids picked up in one semester -- of the THIRD GRADE. It took me longer than that to figure out that a “screen” saver wouldn’t necessarily keep bugs out of my Windows. I also had to nix that pesky habit of fixing typos with correction fluid on the monitor.
And my computer savvy has caused a bit (or byte) of confusion around the house. How many times now have I tried to reboot the microwave? My dishwasher hasn’t yet completely recovered from that last de-fragging. I’ve even tried to enter my password on the TV. Artificial intelligence? I could still use the all-natural kind.
I have to admit that I would miss life without the computer. I’m picturing my children blinking dazedly at me with every homework assignment. And what if I couldn’t check their websites to find out what’s going on their lives? I think I’d even miss the spam. Life without warm fuzzy stories and goofy jokes? No promises of gift certificates or scrolling pictures? No warnings of bad luck if certain slices of spam aren’t forwarded to 47 people within 3 minutes? Thanks, Bill Gates.
I may not know everything about computers, but I know enough to know that computers don’t know everything. As a matter of fact, they only know what we tell them to know. I also know enough to know that I know the most important thing to know. You know? Ephesians 3:17-19 says, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able ... to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.”
Being “in the know” in the one and only important way is knowing the love of Christ. Jesus is the One who has put us “in the know,” and he’s given us a knowing that “passes knowledge.” You can’t find a better knowledge in this world. Put that in your computer and forward it.
I’ll leave you with two computer tips for the day:
1. Don’t get so wrapped up in any form of earthly/computer knowledge that you forget that real knowing is knowing Jesus, and
2. Never try to roll up your Windows. If you need more information, you’ll have to wait for me to download it. Excuse me while I’ll go ask my second grader how to do that.
Rhonda Rhea writes award-winning inspirational humor columns for other Christian publications in the U.S. and Canada. Look for her new book, Amusing Grace, at your local Christian bookstore. Click here to see her web site.
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