More and Faster

For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, and you said, “No! We will flee upon horses”; therefore you shall flee away; and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill. (Isaiah 30:15-17 ESV).

It is believed that the first computer was the ENIAC. In was developed in 1946 at Princeton University. It cost about $6,000,000. It was about 8 feet high, 3 feet deep, and 80 feet long. It weighed 30 tons. It used a lot of power and it was very hot. And, it was down half the time to replace vacuum tubes that had gone bad. The cell phone is the most common computer that most of us carry around. It cost 17,000 times less; it is 40,000,000 times smaller; it uses 400,000 times less power; and, it is 120,000 times lighter. It is also 1,300 times more powerful. And, this is the “old” turn-of-the-century cell phone with texting, MP3, and 0.3 mega-pixel picture capabilities. This is the one that was once used on the Verizon network commercial as the technician walked and said, “Can you hear me now?” The technology we possess now allows us to do something we could never have done as efficiently. We call it “multitasking.” With a telephone headset I can be doing other things as I am talking on the phone. I can be writing on my computer, planning an event, drinking a cup of coffee, checking my schedule on my IPhone, and conversing with someone, all at the same time. It has become a way of life in our 21st century society. We have achieved “more and faster”; and, it seems to never be enough. Our reading today encourages us: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Prayer really cannot be done while we multitask. It should be a time when we let go of all cares except one; it is then that we are consumed in a loving relationship with God. Our whole being becomes centered in the One who is the Center of all. We take time out to be with God and be aware that God is with us. We close down our other tasks simply to receive the transforming love of Christ. Of course we can pray while engaged in other tasks. We may feel that our busy schedule demands such multitasking. But we also need to build into our schedule time when we give our undivided attention to God, time when we are fully receptive to the presence of God and responsive to the action of God. Prayerful resting in God’s love is what enables us to meet the many responsibilities to which we are called. Slow down today and really find your Father beside you.