My first mobile bought in 1990 weighed ½ a kilo and in 2003 I bought a Nokia which gave up the ghost earlier this year. I chose a mid-range Samsung Galaxy from the Tesco range. It had lots of functions and two SIM card slots. Because I wanted to keep my original number and contract with EE, Tesco gave me an additional number along with £20 of free calls. This means I now had two numbers, One Phone Two Sims.. (Could this be a useful simile to explain the Trinity I wondered?)
My old Nokia was basic, so a new phone took a while to explore .It also has a camera which is useful for taking Pics of the Special’s Board in Restaurants and has lots of gizmo’s I neither need nor want) I was however starting to feel comfortable with the thing until last Friday.
We had parked above Waitrose in Hereford prior to lunch at Zizzies. with our daughter Sonya and hubby Anthony. Afterwards we pushed a trolley around a crowded store. Shopping with Marie always carries a whiff of uncertainty but remains interesting because she has a weird and unsettling ability to disappear.
I turn, and the space, once occupied now empty and void, compels me to pause and gaze around bewildered. Twice recently whilst in a state of bemusement, I have been approached by young ladies asking if I need help? With a twinkle in my eye, I tell them about the remarkable phenomenon of a vanishing wife. Their nods and smiles are always suggestive that they too have her gift of instantaneous teleportation.
Waitrose prices are at the top end of the scale, but they do provide a voucher for half price parking. As it was a hot day on the roof, I had left the Shogun’s windows slightly open. Slight enough it transpired for someone to reach in with a stick grab, and steal the phone inadvertently left on the central console,
Back at home, I called EE and 43 minutes later an almost incoherent voice said he had disconnected the number but, as I had bought the phone from Tesco, all they could do was to send a replacement Sim.
The next call was to Tesco. They answered pronto to disconnected my number and tell me that pay-as-you-go is not a contract., I then went into Glouceser to buy a replacement with another number plus £30 free phone vouchers
I called EE again to ask them to record the phone’s unique EMEI number as Stolen. The EMEI number is a manufacturers item code, and when one company tells another that that item/code has been stolen; they isolate it. In theory then, that item/phone is now a paperweight.
I thought deeply about this episode of life and of how and why mankind communicates with each other. My mind went to the time when Paul reminded the Corinthians that we humans are the Temple of God because he dwells in each of us. (I Cor 3:17-17) and John’s words that the divine presence ‘lights everyone coming into the world’ (John I – 17)
Moreover, the Bible shows that we all have an in-built capacity for communication with our creator. We may not however have the capability because, because, like our mobile phones, there are some things we must do, must learn, and must discipline ourselves to follow to get them working, Likewise when linking up with our Creator.
We have his presence within us but may not have activated our inner switches. We night have closed a door or just let his presence dwindle to the point of deactivation. If this has happened to us then we are nearly lost to him and it’s time to act. You and me both have a lot to learn and to change, but here are four suggestions to get started: Not easy as we’ve left it late but there is just time.
1 Put Becoming Holy at the top of our personal aspirations.(Matt22:37)
2 Pray every day, (the Rosary is wonderful disciplinary aid for Catholics, Protestants and Atheists alike. (Go on-line for further advice)
3 Read the Bible daily.
4 Visit a church or group until you feel welcomed and whose ‘style’ of worship and teaching is one you feel is right.
5 Celebrate Christ’s supper as often as you can. (Luke 22) (1Cor 11:25)
It’s bad when we lose our mobile, but it’s worse if like Dr, Faust, we lose our soul.
Faust is the man in German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (c. 1480–1540). The erudite Faust is dissatisfied with his life, and makes a pact with the Devil at a crossroads,. He exchanges his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures.
View from the Pew 