These past few weeks have been extremely frustrating in the Cochran household. Most things that go flooey, I can handle … like the icemaker not putting out enough ice, the sink faucet not getting hot water quickly enough, putting up with squirrels on the bird feeders, and so on. However, the one thing that can get me in a bad place is … don’t mess with my internet/wireless access. For some reason unbeknownst to me or (sad to say), my internet provider, my computer and modem and wireless router are no longer speaking to each other in the same language. I have swapped out equipment and spent untold time on the phone with “service” and still have no connection. In fact, I am typing this column wondering how I am going to email it in since I don’t have access to email except on my phone. And, in order to send it to my phone, it will require…yes, you guessed … an internet connection.
I’m frustrated by watching little blue and orange lights blinking and teasing me into thinking something is about to take hold and stay steady on blue. But, to no avail, it just mocks me. I wish I could live without it, and that the world could function without it, but the sad thing is we need it to do work, communicate with family and friends, and Google mindless questions we may have. We need this connection and it makes life much easier and able to navigate.
I know from talking to folks who read this column that they have the impression that I must have some kind of charmed and holy life that God blesses every day as we walk together in close communion. For those who know me up close and personal, they can tell a different story. I do lose my temper at times. I can be impatient, I can be very stubborn. I can get snarky when things don’t go my way. And usually when these moments come, it is because I have lost my connection with God. I’ve tried to handle things my way without asking for God’s direction and that leads me down a bad path (see above attitudes). The stubborn part of me doesn’t want to give up my ways and this leads to a conflict with God’s ways. I’m not speaking of anything as serious as drugs, alcohol, and other big errors in judgement. I fall away because of my mouth and attitude for the most part.
It doesn’t take much for any of us … any of us … to lose our connection with God. We all stumble and fall, but the good and loving part of God is always willing to pick us up, dust us off, and help us get started again. All it takes is the humility of telling Him, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” And then get your eyes back on Him and in His Word. Once this is done, then we (I) have to make a concerted effort to turn our actions back to God’s actions.
Read the Bible. Stay in fellowship with other believers. Strengthen your prayer life. Avoid those things that tempt you to turn away from what you know is God’s plan for you. Don’t get discouraged when you stumble and have to start over. No one is perfect. And remember that God is on your side. Always and Forever. That is His promise and mine. Stay strong in the Lord and for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.
