The Future has Arrived

I realize that for many people, this post will do nothing more than expose my extreme lack of technical knowledge. Yes, I am still hanging back in the dark ages of the '90s, when email was just a lazy substitute for pen and paper, 28.8 k modems were the "wave of the future", and "hours" had replaced "minutes" as the currency by which we valued our internet access. Now I am living in what is often referred to as the most "wired" country in the world. My internet access runs around the clock and at speeds which leave the old dial-up modems gasping for bandwidth (ker-scrreeecccch-hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm-scrreeeeeeech-buzzzzzzzzzzz-shhhhhhhhhhhh).

Thanks to a very gracious gift from my brother-in-law, we now have a webcam. He has been preaching their utility for sometime now, but until last night I hadn't really become a believer. Last night, Beth and I saw and spoke to David and his family. Praise God! What a blessing! To think that several continents, seas, and one very large ocean could be so easily traversed in so short a time! I was reminded of the scene from Arthur C. Clarke's 2010 where Roy Scheider's wife and child are speaking to him from outer space (we often feel as if we are in outer space). In fact, it was pretty much like every sci-fi movie you have ever seen where people converse by both video and voice.

And now for the best part.....it was entirely free! A 30 minute conversation that didn't cost a dime!

This is indeed progress.

Being Here

Of the many places in which I have lived, I have found the present has always been the most difficult. In the present, I am forced to deal with the many emotions and feelings I experience, to wrestle with my conflicting desires, in addition to paying my bills. In other words, to grind out my existence. But the future is always much more promising. I can spend hours thinking about the future. I guess I am forever a daydreamer. I consider where I might be living and what I might be doing. Will I finally go back to school and pursue my goal of getting my PhD? Will I writhe my way through the ranks of corporate America, not stopping until I reach the corner office? Will I pursue a career in politics, making my name common throughout households, either for good or bad? You see, there are so many roads to take.

But the danger is that many times, by looking at the future, it causes me to take my eyes off the present road that I am traveling. I miss the beautiful scenery as I speed past looking for my next exit. I take no notice of the people passing by on my right and left, people who want nothing more than to share the journey with me. All I can consider is my destination. Is this the type of life Christ would have for me?

There's a Bathroom on the Right

Sometimes I worry that my daughter has a hearing problem. I'm not referring to that selective brand of hearing that all of us develop (I would judge somewhere around the age of 2 based on my son's recently acquiring this skill). No, my daugther often hears words pronounced incorrectly in her mind. She is, of course, only 4 years old, so I am not too concerned. In fact, she has shown an incredible ability to learn and speak Korean during the last 2 months in Seoul, which further allays any concerns. Nonetheless, she does have some type of hearing problem. This morning, she used two such words on the way to school. First, she made a referece to my use of my "cellephone" (as my wife pointed out, a natural derivative of a "telephone"). Then, while driving to school, she decided it would be a good idea for her to wear her "advisor" in order to keep the sun out of her eyes. Now, I'm not sure that my 4 year old has any idea what an "advisor" is, but apparently she feels it is something used to keep you in the dark. Perhaps politicians could learn something here.

Penultimate Words

In a day and age when everyone is always seeking to get in the last word and thereby discouraging dialogue, it would seem only fitting for this blog that your comments are always penultimate (second to last). Have fun!