Stories

partylinephones Telephones continue to amaze me. Though I have years of experience with them, I still do not understand how they work. For me they remain a mystery, a bit of a magic trick, but a wonderful invention that allows us to communicate across an office or to the other side of the world, in an instant.

My grandparents owned a small cabin in the country, a weekend getaway place just north of Houston. The telephone in this rustic residence was a party line. For those who read this blog not old enough to understand this concept, a party line was a shared telephone line. Often when you would pick up the receiver to make a phone call, someone down the line, was already using it and you had to wait your turn, or listen in and collect some juicy gossip, especially if you lived in a small town. (Watch a few selected episodes of the Andy Griffith show to fully appreciate the frustration and the fun involved in a party line). We’ve come a long way since the party line days and for that I am grateful.

As a teenager I remember hearing talk of telephones in the future where you could see pictures of the callers. At the time I dismissed the idea as science fiction, an exciting concept but something that would never happen. This morning as I write this blog I am awaiting a FaceTime call with my granddaughter, one of the highlights of my week. Thank you Alexander Graham Bell, Apple, and all of the engineers that built upon this original technology to make picture phones a reality. Nothing quite as fun as seeing your granddaughter’s face light up and watch her throw you kisses from hundreds of miles away.

This week I enjoyed time in a meeting with a young friend who leads a multi-million dollar company that produces apps for smart phones. He shared some remarkable statistics with me. Did you know that smart phones now outsell personal computers by 5 to 1? And did you know we spend twice as much time each day on smart phones than computers? One more statistic: 89% of our time on smart phones is in an app and 11% in a web browser. Mobile devices have come a long way from my old brick and then bag phones!

Another moment in my week was hearing a gifted communicator share a series of messages during our campus spiritual emphasis. During one of those sermons he touched only briefly on idols. The question that I began to consider was: What is an idol in my life? As I began to pray and consider that question I quickly began to think about my smart phone. While I certainly don’t worship my smart phone, I also realized that I’m one of those people that keeps it close at all times. Though not proud of this, it tends to be the first thing I look at in the morning and the last thing I look at before going to bed. While I don’t text and drive or read e-mails while eating a meal with family and friends (I do walk and text and read), I love the many functions provided at the touch of a finger. From keeping up with the latest news to checking the scores from the sports world, I love being able to shop, browse, e-mail, text, and a host of other things.

I’m guessing I’m not alone. It dawned on me that smart phones may be the best example of a true American Idol. A.W. Tozer once wrote that “an idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand.” Smart phones can be both. So I’m reminding myself to celebrate the good that comes from this amazing technology and to set it aside often so that I don’t miss out on even more important messages.

Our dog, Cali, died this week. Sad days at our house as we are mourning the loss of a member of our family for the past 14 ½ years. It is amazing how attached one can become to a four-legged ball of fur. Cali brought great joy and was a wonderful source of comfort and companionship for us.

Pope Francis believes pets go to heaven and Disney made a 1989 movie promising that at least dogs make it through the pearly gates, so who knows, we might see Cali again.

Cali’s departure reminded me of a trip I made years ago to Scottsville, Texas, population 283. I was there to speak at a Youth Camp. Located immediately adjacent to the campground is one of the oldest and most historic cemeteries in the state of Texas. One morning I decided to walk through the cemetery. Many of the grave markers showed birth dates in the 1700’s. One of the large monuments recognized the death of a soldier who fought in the Battle of 1812. The inscription on his monument said: “Oh for the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is still.”

One of the things you find in old cemeteries that is different from today are the inscriptions on the tombstones. Today you see the name, date of birth and date of death, maybe a Scripture verse. But in years gone by the stones were marked with all kind of prose. Some of it a bit humorous, some you are not quite sure how to take, and some thought stirring and soul provoking. I was glad I had a pencil in my pocket and a piece of paper with me so I could write down some of the things I read:

On a man’s grave were these words: “Wise enough to marry a Texan!” Thankfully, I can identify.

A couple’s monument from the 1800’s: “Their thoughts were all so full of us, they never could forget! And so we know that where they are, they must be watching yet.”

From an 18 year old: “As you are now, So once was I, As I am now, so you must be. Prepare for death and follow me.”

I liked this one: “Life’s race well run, Life’s work well done. Life’s crown well won. Now comes rest.”

On the grave marker of a woman who died at the age of 65 were these words: “A precious one from us is gone. A voice we loved is still. A place is vacant in our home, which never can be filled.”

Perhaps the saddest marker in the whole cemetery to me was one that simply said: “Baby”

As I walked through the Scottsville Cemetery I couldn’t help but think about all the tears that had been shed on those grounds and I was reminded of the words of Jesus: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

A great promise and one that I’ve claimed again this week.