Silverwalk Hermitage

Kevin O’Brien, SJ, Talks About Interior Freedom.

In the end, the software in my iPhone 4S was “totally corrupted.”  Because of work obligations, I was without it for 3, almost 4 days, before I could drive the 2 hours there and back to St. Louis to an Apple Store for repair or replacement. I spent about 3 hours on the phone (Google VoiP) Sunday night with Apple Care till they, without acknowledgment, hung up at closing time, then another hour back at Sprint on Monday. They checked out the phone again, then gave me the bad news re: the need to travel for repair due to Apple’s proprietary repair contract. Once the very young man at the Store had my phone in hand, it took about 3 minutes for him to replace the software. I wanted more energy expended; and they did almost everything on iPads!

initially, I was very bothered not to have my phone because it is now my main phone – I gave up my landline plus I was “on call” that Sunday night and another night before repair. I let everyone know I was using my old trusty TRACFONE as a back up.

Not having a wee computer with me at all times ended up being a relief: no checking email first thing on waking, no lingering Facebook checks, but no camera – except the one on the iPad which turned out to not be so good – very difficult to keep it still.

From my visit to our National Cathedral

I remember before home WiFi, laptop, iPhone and iPad, how I would go outside int he morning (when it was warm enough) to read and pray my morning office. I sat in the yard swing beating off dogs who wanted the lap where my BCP and Bible were. I miss that – I miss getting out and into real life instead of working so much on computers.

And yet, everywhere I turn, I need to do something online: finish a class, updated my license, check out some information.  I have a great concern for those people without access to computers or to libraries. One woman with no car found me when she was at her library with the librarian doing a search for her about a Coonhound. She had nothing many of us take for granted: travel means, online access, a job….yet she was concerned and worried about this dog…..

As I try to formulate changes for my life in the coming year, computer use is one; do I keep the home WIFI? Do I keep the home computer connection at all? why not just use the library? Would using our county transit system, when I have no firm timelines, be of benefit for my pocketbook, environment and community?  How lean can I get my life style in terms of spending, habits, increased availability to others (don’t want this lean!)…

God meets us where we are. As I look back at this past year, I have felt angry most of the time; was it because I disconnected myself from real life to spend many more hours online (“but I don’t have TV” – HA); did I feel a loss of control because hours went by throughout the day with lost productively or decreased physical activity? And where does God want me in this next year, day, hour?

How are you aligning your life to best serve God this coming year? Are you listening to that still, small voice as She speaks to you through corrupted software and the like?

P.S. – Saturday night the iPhone crashed again, unable to “restore” it via iTunes. Could this be a less than subtle hint from God? or just a bad phone? Stay tuned (oohh, bad pun).

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Matthew 20:29-34 (NRSV)

29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” 32 Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him.

The status quo, the “crowd,” could not silence these men who knew Jesus the Great physician would restore their sight – my question is, did this miracle change the crowd?

Reading this passage put me forcefully in mind of the Wall Street Occupiers. People standing up for those with little voice in our political arena; standing outside the status quo, making the crowd of bankers, businessmen uncomfortable – well they should be.

The rich remain rich with a few exceptions because focus is on entitlement programs which benefit those who need them, not those who don’t. To maintain the status quo, the needy should lose more so those not in need can remain comfortable in their homes and worldly associations.

What has happened to “their” sight? How can those with means help those with little, as some publicly state they wish to do?

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The original "Bondi Blue" iMac G3

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”  ~ Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address

I am an Apple/Mac person.  I bought an iMac on sale at Sears, similar to the one pictured. Got it home, set up email and emailed my sister who had been bugging me to get a Mac (she is a Mac person, too).  It amazed her I was online so fast.  Steve Jobs wanted all Apple products beautiful and so well designed a novice could pick one up and use it within minutes.

What really impresses me about Steve Jobs was his focus; he knew what he wanted to do, he had an “insanely great” eye for detail – either to improve it or praise it.  He exuded joy in his work, his passion.  He lived the life God gave him.  He was a Buddhist who inspired, expected excellence from his team and gave them no less.

I did not find my life’s work so early – I am just now beginning to realize what it is – and in that, Jobs was blessed.  We all are.  I need to listen, follow, and not worry what others will think or say.  A favorite quote from Thoreau -

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!  Live the life you’ve imagined.

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• Saying Goodbye to the Magic of Steve Jobs (blonde20.com)

I am not about man bashing or gender bias. I do not like Nike because they use Michael Vick to sell their wares despite his heinous crimes to dogs. This is a compelling video because so much of the world sees women as expendable instead of the true treasures and resources we are. Oh, and do look beyond any poster child to the real child, the real girl, the real family. Thank you.

God does work mysteriously.  I thought I needed my birth certificate to renew my driver’s license.  Could not find it.  I am from Minnesota – the government is shut down – no Internet, no one answering phone calls to the Dept of Health.  Woe is me!  I called our local license bureau, told them my tale, and since I had shown it once, I don’t need it this time.  Thank you, God.  A small thing?  I don’t think so!

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14″We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up. But God will not take away a life; he will devise plans so as not to keep an outcast banished forever from his presence.” ~ 2nd Samuel 14:14

^12″What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? ¹³And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. ¹⁴So it is not the will of your^* Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.” ~ Matthew 18:12-14

What reassurance from Scripture of God seeking us even when we are lost and strayed from Her.  This is a great consolation to me as I am not the most faithful of followers – rarely anymore “doing” what is church doctrine (church attendance)  - and unable ever to take in the Holy Eucharist. However, an abbot once spoke to me how I take Eucharist by intention if not in fact.   God finds us, enabling us as part of Him even if “outside the box.”

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