And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15, NKJV
I watched in dismay as the loading bar slowed to a crawl and then halted. A few seconds later, the screen blinked and the familiar words, “There is a problem with your Internet connection,” appeared.
“We’re down again,” I said to my business partner.
“Yeah, I see that,” he replied in disgust.
It had been a frustrating two weeks of dropped connections and intermittent Internet service. As a graphics and web design company, we rely on the Internet for everything – email, setting up websites, uploading information, transmitting files, and communication.
Ever since our cable company upgraded the equipment, we’ve had problems. We started to know the technicians on a first name basis and the service department recognized our number on their caller ID. Still, despite new wiring inside and out, a replacement modem and a new plate on the pole outside, the problems persisted.
I am amazed at how dependent we have become on technology. Our society is constantly connected and plugged in. Cell phones, WiFi, broadband, text messaging – we need our communication delivered fast and when it is down, it impacts our ability to function.
I heard a preacher say that our society has become so impatient that we even pace back and forth in front of the microwave. All of this connectivity to people on the other side of the globe has resulted in less face-to-face time. We collect “toys,” not relationships.
During that downtime, I rediscovered things I had been missing. In the evening, instead of catching up on work and answering email, I now had time to take walks with my husband, garden, even get to the gym. During work time, my business partner and I were to spend time analyzing in-depth things we had done in the past and discuss future business goals.
God truly cleared a path that allowed a renewing of my mind and a freeing of my spirit. And throughout it all, He provided, with intermittent “up times,” to keep some business flowing and customers that were patient and understanding during the crisis. We only lost one business deal during that time, but what we gained was so much greater; an abundance of intangible things that could not be possessed.
Karen F. Riley just celebrated her five-year anniversary of accepting Jesus into her heart. She is ever so thankful for His restoration of the years that the locust had eaten. You can share her journey at www.locustfood.com.
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