Always on

One of my early memories of getting our first television about 50 years ago was the time it took for the tubes to warm up and the TV to come on. The radio was the same way and it seemed normal at that time to turn something on and wait for it to warm up before using it. About 40 years ago we saw the advent of the “instant on” devices that would be ready to use as soon as you flipped the switch. That came to be the way of life as “waiting” was a thing of the past. I remember when I learned that in order for the “instant on” concept to work, the appliance was really “always on”. The TV was really still on as it sat in the corner. It was warmed up and ready to go when we turned to switch. The electric meter was turning all the time but that was ok because everything we needed to use was on standby with no waiting required. The down-side to all this is that in our “always on” 24/7/365 world, balance can be hard to come by. That time of waiting and sitting still before the TV came on was no longer there. That 30 seconds or so of interlude was valuable in that the art of waiting is a renewal time for the mind. Isaiah wrote:

“ They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” ( Isaiah 40:31 )

I read this morning that leadership is not the private reserve of a few charismatic men and women. It is a process ordinary people use when they are bringing forth the best from themselves and others. Sometimes to bring forth the best, a time of waiting and warm up is required. Look for the opportunities to warm up today. The only area we need to be “Always on” is our relationship with God and those around us. Someone once said that we are really into microwaving while God is still into marinating. Take some time to soak today.

Balancing in the fast lane

I am constantly amazed at the speed at which our society operates. With the technology innovations connecting us at higher efficiency we find the pace increasing. It is a trend that has been cranking up for centuries and like the frog in a pan of boiling water, we have not noticed some of the changes that have taken place. A few weeks ago I blogged about living in the fast lane without being in a hurry. The internet has changed our concept of getting data from point A to point B. Instant messaging allows us to respond at the sound of a beep or even a silent vibration no matter what else we are doing. Fast food and overnight delivery have allowed us to operate without waiting. It is important to remember that some things in life cannot be hurried. Relationships are like that. Being responsive to others in the relationship takes “quality time”. Balancing the time issue with God, family, vocation and leisure is important enough to be a priority. It would be good to keep the words of the prophet Isaiah close at hand:

“But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.“

Isaiah 40:31

It is worth the wait.