Wowed

I'm a late adopter of technology. As I successfully google obscurities such as "How to make soap from raccoon fat," or soak up rare video footage of Fritz Wunderlich--my favorite classical singer, dead 50 years--I marvel at the Internet. Submitting to its many charms, I feign productivity, wishing I inclined as naturally to stewardship of hours and minutes as I do to dollars and cents.
While others debate the relative merits of iPhones versus Androids, I have barely an inkling what they do. A BlackBerry, to me, ripens mid-June, along a forest's southern faces, waiting to be plucked into my upcycled tin can bucket. Among the rapidly dwindling ten percent of Americans lacking a mobile phone, I cling to a bare-bones landline; call me, and--without the benefit of voicemail or call waiting--you may hear an anachronistic busy signal or endless ringing. I resisted home Internet access until my online business, Laura's Last Ditch, outgrew the public library's computer lab.

A WOW! Computer

My grandma, too, resisted the digital age. On Thanksgiving day, she scarcely noticed the oversized computer monitor atop her vintage metal desk--at Grandma's, parties are BYOT, with 'T' signifying 'Technology.' My mom, well aware of Grandma's technophobic tendencies, lured her into the office, ostensibly to see my blog. She spurned the computer, though, until a mere touch to the prominently placed 'plus' icon enlarged the print to a manageable size. No ordinary machine, the AARP magazine advertised this WOW! Computer, for seniors new to Web navigation. Realizing it belonged to her--a surprise gift--my grandma, from whom I hardly recall a negative word, mustered, "I'm just not sure about this. I try to be a good steward of my time."

Nevertheless, the family gathered, sharing favorite YouTube videos: Susan Boyle's stunning TV debut; Danny Macaskill's acrobatic bike stunts, Paul Potts' touching "Nessun Dorma." We googled 'Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever,' a malady afflicting an honorary grandchild. Growing interested, yet not fully convinced, we signed her up for Facebook. She beheld endearing photos of great-grandchildren in fleeting stages of babyhood, and clips of just-celebrated Thanksgiving dinner at the in-laws'--a virtual family reunion. Won over, my grandmother exclaimed, "Wow! So this is what I've been missing!"

While pondering the Internet's magnificence, I consider how, some day, when we see Heaven, we, likewise will exclaim, "So this is what we've been missing!" We will see not only the dearly departed, but our Savior, Jesus Christ--no longer through a glass, darkly, but face to face. Take that, Facebook!

Jesus of Nazareth--L. Jambor
in my Etsy shop.

Though I enjoy the Internet, perhaps a little too much, I recall my wise grandmother's admonition about stewardship of time, knowing I must answer to the same Jesus for how I've spent mine. I resolve to do better, yet fail miserably, concurring with the apostle Paul: O wretch that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?

Thank God, the same Jesus, who could condemn us, owns a love more personal than Facebook, wiser than Wikipedia, and vaster than Google.

WOW!

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You Have a Friend in Pennsylvania

Between Michigan and Upstate New York lies Fairview, Pennsylvania. A few months ago, on their way back to Michigan from visiting my brother's family in the Albany area, my mom and dad took the Fairview exit. We had visited my old high school boyfriend there on Avonia Road on several occasions, what seems like a lifetime ago. My mom wondered, after 20 years, if she'd still be able to find the house where he had lived.

Indeed she was, and his former home was serendipitously near a rather large yard sale. She bought several items for my Etsy shop, but some of the most interesting stuff was in the trash pile. Some things are just interesting, regardless of value.

Many sellers on Etsy offer what is called a Pay It Forward listing. The idea of a "PIF" listing is just to recover selling costs, offering something just to be nice, or just for the fun of it. The person purchasing a PIF listing should, in turn, do something nice for someone else.

Last week I finally sorted the box of Catholic statues and paper ephemera that my parents found in the trash at the Avonia Road, Fairview, Pennsylvania yard sale. Grouping the statues, I found some interesting, some kitschy, but the armless Mary just plain sad. I couldn't bring myself to throw her, and trusted, with all the crafty people on Etsy, someone would give her a second chance.

What a second chance she received! I really enjoy earning a living by selling online, but I do so love finding homes for things the average person wouldn't think twice about throwing away. This forlorn little statue gave more satisfaction than usual. The buyer, Donna Maria, lost no time fixing her and restoring a babe in arms, leaving postive feedback for the transaction, joining my Facebook page, blogging about it, and sending me photos. I'd say she has already paid it forward. She gave me a smile. And she might yet infuse hope in some hapless soul sunk low, that there's a loving Creator, waiting to fix you up and make you new again, in a form more glorious than before.

And all because, over 20 years ago, I had a friend in Pennsylvania.



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