In need of Help

I needed help today. Help from fellow members of this human race did not, could not, would not, whatever. I was pondering the problem of technology beyond my understanding. A password was needed. I knew the one I have been using, but it was rejected. I tried another one close to the primary one, it was rejected. I tried an older one, it was rejected. I got on-line to the site after logging in and then requesting help on the “chat” line. Information given. To cut this short, after almost an hour of back and forth chats, printing out the ‘help pages’ to follow, I got nowhere except; “click” end of chat. Is it because, well yes, it’s because I am a user of technology which can get burned out just as I’m about to be burned-up because of this. Why couldn’t the programmers know something like this could happen? Or, their job is more secure when things like this happen: more chat times.

Am I pushing the wrong button? All I see is the result of the configurations of the 1 and 0’s. All I see is my fingers pushing keys on the keyboard resting on my knees which sends signals to the screen which shows in black on white the combination of keys punched combined into English words: “I need help”, then waiting for the answer.

Isn’t that the same position we the people are in?

We say and believe that God created this universe and all that is in it, and we didn’t have any input into its design, as there would have been a few things I’d have changed making it easier for us tech dummies to understand. I use basically the same sign-in code and password for all my tech—stuff. Have I been hacked? Is that devilish one unnerving me? That good book we look to for guidance and answers says He (God) is ready and willing to help when in need, just ask. And, often when we ask for help, nothing seems to arrive relieving our frustration. “End of chat. Click”.

Try someone else for advice. No, I got to figure this out on my own. Get into that closet on my knees and try again. What am I doing wrong? I used the password (the name of Jesus) and the closet is still just as dark as when I entered; no light exposing my asked for help. Try again. But where does my voice go? Where? Seems like it bounced off the ceiling. Maybe go outside and ask again. Shout into the air: “I need help.”  Swat the air; nothing there.

Advice I get is: “Patience brother. Did you miss-spell the password? No, tried it three times. Is there some area of your life you need to correct first?”  Well, yes, undoubtedly, I’m full of it, but I don’t recall anything specific at this moment. Hey, I try to treat all my fellow humans with the same kind of love. It’s me. Sometimes I must work at it, but it’s the way it is, I didn’t have anything to do with the creation of any of this. This technology thingy is the way it is. Hard to understand when something goes amiss. I want help now, yes NOW.

Hmm? Too many like me crying for help at this time and my number has not come up yet, so be patient. Sure, how can God answer all the requests for help at the same time. Could be the guy next door be wanting to chat also, and one down the block, in the next neighborhood, the next town, the pastor of the church, the rural farmer stuck in the mud, traffic jams in the big city, tornado in the next state, the governor, a rep about to lose the election, yeah and even homes across the seas. Millions of us wanting for a “chat time” at the same time. Wait your turn buddy, I’m number 156741. Others waiting their turn on the “chat line”. Be patient.  Yes, Okay, no doubt some of those cries for help are more serious than mine, even life or death, a child fell thru the ice, a witness life threatened, a woman buried under a crashed vehicle, a youngster about to jump. Yes, thousands more pertinent than mine. Let them be ministered to first. Now I’m # 846123.

I’ll go shopping a bit while waiting my turn.

While pushing the cart down an aisle a thought came: “go over to the technology section and select a new one.” Okay, what have I got to lose, just the $35, that’s all. I’m here. Why not?

I did. Spent the $35, took it home, unwrapped it, read the instructions, installed it, typed in the same code again and whoosh, problem solved. Throw the old one in the trash, no longer working as it developed a flaw. Answer received, but hold on, I was way down the list. Didn’t think I’d get an answer at all. It really was kind of quick and unexpected. Did a bunch ahead of me cancel out?

My summary.

Technology? Who can understand the interworking’s of technology? Only the programmers, not the users. Who can understand the interworking’s of spirit and physical? Only the creator, not the creation. The Almighty God is outside our time zone as that spiritual unseen world is without time. We as physical elements are restricted to time; the physical law of gravity keeps us in this physical time zone. For us time keeps moving. For the Creator there is only now: here there everywhere all the time, every millisecond of our time.

The creator, the programmer whispered thoughts to this mind of mine as I pushed the cart.

Like technology, I develop flaws and don’t quite work as well, so one day I’ll be down and out of this time zone being replaced by another.

Author: Arnold R. Kropp

About Mr. Arnold. Back in the days when I was a kid growing up in south Chicago, freely roaming around the neighborhood was common, and just a part of life in the late '40s and early '50s. A train track was less than a mile away and a favorite place to walk along the rails. A large city park was a bit closer with areas of dense trees and areas of open grassy picnic grounds. A public golf course was just two blocks away, but the famed 4-lane busy Western avenue had to be crossed to get to it, and we crossed in the middle of the block running between the cars and trucks. We knew the risks. In the winters, we would climb that fence making our way to one of the ponds, we’d push and shovel away the snow and play a spontaneous game of hockey, or bring a sled and slide down the hillside ; no adults, no special padding, just a group of kids enjoying the contest. Dad was at work. Mom was home tending to the laundry and preparing the family meal for promptly at 6 pm. Life was good. It was fun. Sunday mornings were dress up in suit and tie, polished shoes for Sunday school and the worship service, then to a restaurant. Arnold went on to college immediately after high school, but could not find a subject, a major that was really up his alley, so he enlisted in the Army and served in Germany during the years the Berlin wall was built. Seeing what effects Soviet communism had on the people of East Germany left an impression on him. During those years, he would write many long letters home starting a desire to write more than just letters. Many years later Arnold developed a blog where he posted hundreds of articles on the political side of American life. Some of those are available in the collection named "Ramblings". Today, Society is totally different from that of the '50s, a whole lot different. Today, it has become scary to let the kids roam. Today it has become organized to the hilt with 2nd graders playing organized football. In my present relatively quiet neighborhood, I do see kids walking the streets, but there is a difference as the kids seem to be apprehensive and on guard or intently operating a telephone as they walk, not running after each other playing hide and seek. Today, the above freedoms of the '50s are suspect and avoided as being dangerous activities. And that is sad. It's sad that today's kids do not have that freedom, and it may be having a direct effect on their development. Consider, one fact that is readily apparent today compared to yesterday; the preponderance of overweight and obese kids, even pre-school kids are heavier than we were, and this has to be affecting the rest of their daily lives. No doubt about it. But, I'd better hush, can't talk about those things. Yes, in the '50s there were Semi-trucks, public transportation, murders, rape, robberies, house fires, sickness and diseases resulting in death, and yes, there were deadly vehicle accidents too. There was even poverty and homosexuals too. We went to public schools, and the high school was integrated. This was Chicago, but those events did not make the headlines, as news was only broadcast at 6pm and possibly 10pm nightcap. Days of the cold war kept us together as a nation. We saw the "Victory at Sea" war clips before the main feature at the theaters. And now technology dominates life. A cell phone in every handy pocket posting selfies. A computer saving everything to one of those cumulous clouds. Room size TV’s broadcasting everything 24/7. This is more information than I want. Let me decide something. I think. therefore, I am. I was born a male, therefore I am. I was born-again, therefore I am. I have life within, therefore I am. The news is not my guide. The TV is not my Sheppard. View all posts by Arnold R. Kropp