Last Thursday, per usual, I programmed Thursday’s Thirst to be sent out at 8:15 a.m. and at that precise time I received notification that it had been sent. However, I quickly noticed that I had not received it and that very few people were opening it. A quick check found that it was not getting to most of the audience. I tried resending it an hour later, but received the same results. I waited until Monday, tried it again and ditto. In frustration I turned to Shane, my tech adviser, with the plea, “Please find what’s wrong.”
I was convinced that Mail Chimp was having technical difficulties, or that I was experiencing another problem with this new laptop. It did not take long for Shane to get back to me. He had found the problem, and the problem was ME!
Ouch! I was the cause of what I had been so quick to blame on others. And the problem I caused was beyond what I could fix … I could see the symptoms, but was clueless as to the cause. Reparations now in place (thanks, Shane), I am confident today’s edition will be sent to all … And, in case you are interested, I intend to resend last week’s one more time later today.
Technical difficulties are defined by Wikipedia as “unforeseen equipment problems such as hardware failures or software bugs that make it difficult or impossible to perform a desired action.” What it took Shane to point out to me was something that Nathan pointed out to David long ago. David was his own problem then … I am my own problem now … and neither one of us could figure it out on our own! Thanks be to God who sends us “technical advisors” through whom he not only points out the problem, but actually solves it. It is only through the Holy Spirit working in us that we are able to say, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. … For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. … Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51.1-5)
The “technical problems” that make healthy relationships “difficult or impossible” for us are not found in computers … they are in us. And rather than just being minor glitches we can easily fix ourselves, our problems ultimately can only be solved by the Master Technician (and designer of the universe) … our Lord Jesus Christ. However, they are likely never to be resolved if we refuse to recognize them or keep blaming others.
Are you experiencing “technical difficulties” in any relationships these days? (If you think you are not, I suggest your re-read the previous paragraph). We have been given the prayer through which God solved the problem in David. It’s one I continue to use every day, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you … Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.” (Psalm 51.10-15)
I sure hope this gets out to everyone today … and that God uses it to resolve many technical difficulties … starting with MINE.