Word for Today, Tue, 21 May 2002: Loving Tech Support!
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Today I got a message from my mother in law that is one of those
stories that blend Christian principles with some common daily icon.
In this case, it's the Tech Support Specialist. Having done similar
kinds of work, I can relate to the message, both from the Tech Support
and the spiritual background.
Here's the message, followed by some notes and application to us right
now.
+++
TECH SUPPORT:
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE HAD THE "PLEASURE" OF CALLING A COMPUTER
TECH-SUPPORT NUMBER, IT CAN OFTEN TURN INTO A VERY INVOLVED, SOMETIMES
FRUSTRATING ADVENTURE, BUT HERE'S A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CASE...
Tech Support: Yes ma'am, how can I help you?
Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install
Love. Can you guide me through the process?
Tech Support: Yes I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?
Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do
I do first?
Tech Support: The first step is to open your heart. Have you located
your heart ma'am?
Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it
okay to install Love while they are running?
Tech Support: What programs are running ma'am?
Customer: Let's see, I have past-hurt, low self-esteem, grudge, and
resentment running right now.
Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase past-hurt from
your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory,
but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually
override low self-esteem with a module of it's own called high
self-esteem. However, you have to completely turn off grudge and
resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly
installed. Can you turn those off ma'am?
Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?
Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke
forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until grudge and
forgiveness have completely erased.
Customer: Okay done, Love has started installing itself. Is that
normal?
Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base
program. You need to begin connecting to other hearts in order to get
the upgrades.
Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says,
"error-program not run on external components." What should I do?
Tech Support: Don't worry ma'am, It means the Love program is set-up
to run on internal hearts but has not yet been run on your heart. In
non-technical terms, it means you have to Love yourself before you can
Love others.
Customer: So what should I do?
Tech Support: Can you pull down self-acceptance; then click on the
following files: Forgive-self; Realize your worth; Acknowledge your
limitations.
Customer: OK, done.
Tech Support: Now copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system
will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty
programming. Also, you need to delete verbose self-criticism from all
directories and empty your recycle bin to make sure it is completely
gone and never comes back.
Customer: Got it. Hey!!! My Heart is filling up with new files. Smile
is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying
themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?
Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes a while, but eventually
everything gets downloaded at the proper time. So Love is installed
and running. One more thing before we hang-up. Love is Freeware. Be
sure to give it and it's various modules to everyone you meet. They
will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to
you.
Customer: I promise to do just that. By the way, what's your name?
Tech Support: Just call me the Divine Cardiologist, also known as the
Great Physician, or just "I AM." Most people feel all they need is an
annual checkup to stay heart-healthy; but the manufacturer (ME)
suggests a daily maintenance schedule for maximum Love
efficiency. KEEP IN TOUCH!
+++
God's Word is full of messages of love to us. Some messages come in
the form of instruction and direction, and other words are very direct
about God's love. The third chapter of the first epistle of John, (1
John 3) is full of messages of love. Just a few snips: "11 This is
the message we have heard from the beginning: We should love one
another." ... and then a longer passage...
"16 We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for
us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian
brothers and sisters. 17 But if anyone has enough money to live well
and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help ? how can
God's love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us stop just
saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. 19 It
is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth, so we will
be confident when we stand before the Lord, 20 even if our hearts
condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows
everything. 21 Dear friends, if our conscience is clear, we can come
to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive whatever we
request because we obey him and do the things that please him." (New
Living Translation)
I believe that the message in the Tech Support note is sound, and can
be supported by scripture, as we can see by this small sample. Don't
take my word for it, though. Read God's Word, the Bible, every day.
The Bible is useful in teaching, correcting, training, and equipping
us in every way, so that God can accomplish in us precisely what He
intends for our lives.
Dear Lord,
Your Word reminds us to Cast all of our cares upon You, because you
care for us. (1 Peter 5:7) You also remind us to seek You and to pray
continuously. Use Your Word to light the fire of Your Holy Spirit
within us, so that we may be found neither cold nor lukewarm when You
come to judge us, but instead, effective servants, loving one another
and seeking You first in everything. Amen.
Your Brother in Christ,
Brian
=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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