Cyber Monday

Aaaargh!  BOOM!  That’s my head exploding from all the post Thanksgiving holiday shopping ads!  The turkey is still warm and the television is erupting with suggestions from Target or Macy’s to run immediately to the stores to buy, buy, buy!

Not only that, every time I check my email this week, the “box” is full of discounts from everyone imaginable:  Amazon, Justice, Kohl’s, to Boy Scouts of America!  Boy Scouts?  I only just ordered Isaac and Levi’s uniform last week!

Buy? Buy? Buy?  Are you as plugged in as I am?  Wait…  cell phones, lap tops, notebooks, Kindles, iPads, iPods (I still don’t know the difference!)  And the “G’s”… a 3G vs a 4G?  What in the world is a “G” anyway?  Every time I turn on the television, someone is telling me I need to upgrade to something I have NO clue what it is!  Luckily, I have our 11 year old Violet to interpret all this modern technology for me!

I guess all this “stuff” is supposed to keep me connected, right?  Look around.  Kids texting.  Adults talking to contraption attached to an ear.  It’s everywhere.  Instant information:  MSN, facebook, Myspace, gmail or google.

Aaaargh!  Technology.  Our connection to the world.

In an instant, I can text Caity 100 miles away and find out about her day.  In even less time, I can log on facebook and immediately view pictures of friends and family.

Connections.

What happens when they all.just.shut.off?

Recently, Dan and I took a trip to celebrate our 15^th Anniversary.  Just a few days ago, we boarded a plane to get away.  Just the two of us!  Home is just a cell phone call away, right?

Aaaaaah!  How relaxing.  Quietness.  Feel the tension dripping from my neck.  No fighting boys.  No moody sisters.  No cooking and cleaning.  No wiping butts.  Kids are just a phone call away.

Just the two of us!

Seated in the plane shoulder to shoulder with much larger passengers spilling over into my seat, I was ready for a few days with just me and my hott-hubby.  As we began the trip to the runway, the captain comes on and says to “turn off ALL electronic devices!”

WHAT?  I have to turn off my cell phone?  Ohhhhhhh no!  What if?  Well…. what if someone needs to talk to Mommy?

Not only was my connection completely shut down, when we gained altitude, you were allowed to turn on all “approved” electronic devices.  Out poured all kinds of laptops, ipads, Blackberrys, DVD players!  Wait…  I only have a very ancient tiny little cell phone; one without any fancy “g’s”!  It’s not a “smart” phone.  How am I supposed to call my kids?  Or, how will they call me?  I have NO connection to home!  (Panic!  I began to feel sick down deep to my knees.)  None.  Our destination was a 5 ½ hour plane ride.

I was completely – and – totally disconnected.

It was so strange.  Like I was lost!  I couldn’t call my children!  I didn’t have an internet friendly gadget to log on and check my email!  I could not chat with Caity on facebook!  And then the next thought occurred to me:  What if they needed to call me?!  What if something happened and they needed to talk to mommy?  What if someone was hurt and had to contact me?  What if?… What if…..  Wha…

“Be still, and know that I am…”

God?  God!  GOD!  Is that You?  (By now, I think I was hyperventilating.)

“Yes.  I am here.”

Oh!  My!  God!  There You are!  Oh, I feel better already.  Oh God, I am so glad to have this connection; this connection that doesn’t require anything electronic; this direct link you!  Then a thought occurred to me.  As a heavenly Father, how God must understand my panic and worry.  I was disconnected to my four kids momentarily; He has so many more children lost, not connected to Him, unaware of their Father’s love.  “Gheeze… God, do you panic too for your children that aren’t connected to you?”

 “What do you think?”

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”  –  John 14:27

Copyright © Angie Hott, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved