FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TIMES
When I read Esther’s story in the Bible I can relate to a question her guardian, Mordecai, posed concerning her destiny. He asked her, “…who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, NKJV) In the same way, I must accept such times as this in which I am called by God to fulfill my destiny. That is, if I want to succeed! This applies even to the details of daily living. Let me explain myself—today, in 2024, I’ve had to face the fact I cannot long for the technologically simpler times of the 20th century! This day, this year, is the time God has chosen to place me, to place us all. We are here for a reason. When we accept the times we’re living in, we can celebrate them, challenges and all.
YES, I ADMIT IT
I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who has struggled with our ever-advancing technology. For instance, and I’m not ashamed to admit it (sheepish grin), I’m a Baby Boomer who at one time was quite inept when it came to navigating the digital world. So much so, if you can believe this, that when my family purchased our first PC back in 2000, I couldn’t even operate a mouse. Ha ha, I don’t mind if you’re laughing out loud right now!
PLEASE HOLD MY HAND!
I could forget about trying to play video games with my sons back then. What I understood about the game far exceeded my ability to handle the controls. My fingers just wouldn’t do what my brain was telling them they should do…and what busy Mom has time to practice? Now I welcome tech help anywhere I can get it! I’m forever asking my 9-year-old grandson, “How did you do that?” when it comes to using my iPhone. He is happy to hold my hand and guide me along, lol
A MENTAL BLOCK
Part of my problem with technology was my strong bias against it. I actually detested the computer! I believe it was because I was overreacting to what I thought was my sons’ preoccupation with video games. Or perhaps it was because the television was always on whenever my husband was home? (More to that story later!) Whatever the reason, I just couldn’t seem to get past the mental block that hindered my ability to manipulate the mouse. I have since come to my senses and realized that technology itself isn’t intrinsically evil, lol. Clearly, as with almost anything—television, gaming, money...fill-in-the-blank, it can be a tool meant for harm or for good. It all depends, of course, on the condition of the heart.
VIRTUAL REALITY
Another thing that was hard to accept—I grew up in a time where everything was ‘hard copy’. Can anyone relate?? It took me a minute to wrap my head around the fact that a page was not a real page, but virtual images on a screen. Something you could ‘turn’ with a click. Worse, before Autosave, I could instantly lose a half-day’s writing with a single stray touch on the keyboard. I still groan…
FROM PAPER TO DIGITAL
I hope you’ll indulge me in this last point:) Technology, i.e. the Internet, would change our culture even more over the next 20+ years. I had to face the fact that our everyday lives were significantly shifting. It seemed gradual enough at first, though. We moved from sending personal letters to electronic emails, paper bills to using Autopay, from overhead projectors (who remembers those in church? ha ha) to computerized lyrics and videos. For me, though, the worst aspect of this shift was that it became practice for most people to text rather than talk on the phone. (I’m guilty too.) Or communicate through social media rather than having face-to-face encounters with friends. Sadly, it appeared convenience had became the norm rather than the exception.
FINDING A BALANCE
I know there’s nothing inherently wrong with any of this. However, I do believe we must understand the importance of balancing how we interact socially. To be intentional about how we relate, communicate, and spend time together--so that we don’t lose our humanity! Am I being too dramatic? Not necessarily! As an older woman I believe I have a valuable perspective.
I ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE!
At the same time, though, I am challenged!! No doubt I will need a little extra help here and there, but I am determined to accept the times! I now understand that part of aging with wisdom, especially in our opinions and mindsets, is the ability to stay resilient and flexible. These are wonderful attributes of the young. I never want to be a crotchety old woman who cannot bend when the wind of circumstance blows. Like a dry and brittle stick, I would surely break under the pressure. In order to stay young at heart, like a well-watered tree, I believe the key is to stay fully hydrated by Living Water! (John 4:14)
FLOURISHING IN OUR TIMES
In conclusion, I refer to these Scriptures. (I encourage you to do a study in Strong's Concordance of some of these words. They are amazingly insightful.) God says in Psalm 91:12-15 KJV, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15 to shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” I want that to be me! How about you?
