Pastor's Note

CHANGES KEEP COMING
January 6th, 2008

For Christmas I received one of those digital picture frames. To my own amazement I was able to download some digital photos from my computer.
When I told Mike, our music director, about down-loading to a picture frame, he expressed how he likes modern technology and the latest gadgets. I told him I am reluctant to try anything very high tech. He then asked an amazing question, “When you were my age, did you like the latest technology of the day?”
That got me thinking. I was Mike’s age around 1970. What technology was there? It was before the computer chip, so many of the things we take for granted didn’t exist. New technology included cassette tapes and eight-tracks. (I confess I had them both.) But it is actually easier for me to think of what was not around thirty-eight years ago.
We didn’t have digital alarms or those crazy clocks that have a different Christmas tune for each hour. Nor were there microwaves, Mr. Coffee pots, hand-held calculators, answering machines, GPS, or remote controls!
There was ‘cablevision’ but that really just meant better reception of the three main TV networks and public television. No, there were no mobile phones, desk-top or note-book computers, or CD or DVD players. I don’t think we even had video games. People couldn’t even rent a movie in those days, either on VHS or Beta Max (remember that?).
So, Mike, I did like the latest technologies, whatever they were: cameras that used a cube for the flash and an electric typewriter with a special white tape to ‘erase’ mistakes.
I fear that this is all making me sound very old. But the truth is I marvel at how much change there has been in not so many years. And changes keep coming faster and faster.
Maybe the real questions should be: How have we personally changed as the world around us moves on? Are these changes for the good?
As we enter 2008, I pray we will be able to maintain our focus and our inner self even in the midst of additional changes.